Yusuf speaks:

” Before I address this issue I would like to know what have been the Human Rights records of Hindutva Ideology in India. How do proponents of Hindutva philosophy treat the minorities? What is their reaction towards Muslims and other communities?”

Thiagan says:
I assert that the humand rights record of Hindus towards others had been excellent. Ask Parsis and Jews, who are far less in number than the muslims and please tell why they never had a problem. The Parsis became the most valuable members of the society and we cherish their presence. The Hindus confront muslims because the muslims hate Hindus and want to convert India into an Islamic state. This is what is preached in mosques and madrassas; this is preached in Arabic and Yusuf will tell soemthing else in English. The Hindu population in Pakistan has come down to 2% from 20% in 1947. It is Islam that has vaporised them into its fold.

Rohit says
” Will a Hindu India led by the likes of Narendra Modi be fair to the minorities? I think the answer is fairly obvious. Thus to judge Islam from how the Islamic states behave is completely wrong.”

Thiagan says:
The muslims understand only violence and the Hindus resort to that as the only option. I will term it as an act of constructive retalliation to prevent future Godhras.

The debate about Islam being a peaceful religion (or not) is not irrelevant as it does impact terrorism and events around us (including the war in Iraq)

You say that “

Enough evidence can be cited from almost any religious text to show how every religion promoted violence and discrimination at one point of time or another”

– and you have included the wikipedia link to Hinduism in the quote.
Two things, violence and discrimination are NOT the same things.
Secondly, the discrimination that you refer to in Hinduism (I can only presume you mean the caste system) is such a complex subject that it is easy to be intellectually lazy about it (See e.g. this “Varna and Jatis: the need for clarity” )

You also say that

“The very nature of religion as a group which can only expand its power by enlisting additional hands is enough to ensure that it can never behave fairly to those who choose a different path”

…Well, I guess that you are primarily thinking of Abrahamic (and monotheistic religions here)…Hinduism of course has never attempted to proselytise and is certainly not monotheistic. See e.g. “Hinduism – NOT “monotheism in disguise”

You further say that

“A Hindu state or the Christian state would treat its minorities the same way as the Islamic states do”

- This again is a statement that is very hard to defend intellectually.

Historically, the liberal strain within Hinduism has ensured that minorities are not persecuted even though their beliefs may, at times run counter to the prevailing orthodoxy of the time (Buddhism e.g.).

Secondly what makes you think that a Hindu state will not be secular? Is there anything within the philosophy or the belief system that prevents a Hindu state from treating its minorities fairly? In fact, scholars have argued that India (and Hinduism) can be a role model for peace in the 21st century.

Look forward to your thoughts.
B Shantanu @ http://hindudharma.wordpress.com/