Religion: The Intoxicating Truth

I am a very dormant participant in any discussion about politicians and their politics. Somehow, this topic has failed to interest me time and again. However the turn of events in the last few days prompted me to write this note on the prevailing campaign styles adopted by political parties which are abhorring to say the least. The inherent adoption of religion as a potent weapon to glorify one’s standing makes it all the more intolerable. This not only sparks communal tension but also creates a very unhealthy and sickening ambience. I won’t take the names of any party in particular as I feel that both the major political powerhouses are responsible for what is happening in Gujarat and a few other states. The hunger for the “Chair” and the power associated with it is so insatiable that one is ready to take any step right or wrong to achieve it. Making religion an issue and by targeting the minorities the politicians are actually digging their own grave as, such public outcries are bound to create a negative influence in the heart and mind of the minorities. There are a few others who try to cash in on such inflammatory remarks by their counterparts by lending their shoulder to the targeted mass to cry on. I can only say that India has thousands of problems to sort out and the glorifying or demeaning of any religion should be the last on the list of our leaders.

The Election Commission should make its presence felt by intervening in between as they did earlier by putting a limit to the amount of spending by political parties during elections and by implementing a few other steps in order to ensure a smooth and fair election. Chief Ministers and other leaders should concentrate on the development of a region or state and not in the demeaning of any minority community. By doing this they are leading by example in the promotion of lawlessness, crime and intolerance.