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Activist condemns use of religion for political gains
An eminent communal harmony preacher and social activist Ram Puniyani has said the use of religion for political gains is the greatest humiliation for any religion. He was delivering a speech on ``India and current political scenario” at Media Plus auditorium here on Tuesday.
Hyderabad: An eminent communal harmony preacher and social activist Ram Puniyani has said the use of religion for political gains is the greatest humiliation for any religion. He was delivering a speech on ``India and current political scenario” at Media Plus auditorium here on Tuesday.
Ram Puniyani has said government critics are not traitors and voicing against the government is freedom of expression and a fundamental right of every citizen. ``Imposing restrictions on freedom of speech is an attack on fundamental rights,” he said.
Commenting onthe use of religion in politics, he has said issues related to religious structures such as the ``Ram Mandir” or the cow slaughter only pop up around the election times and such tricks though provide strength and support of one religious group, it costs life and property of thousands in the form of riots.
Recollecting thehistory to support his point, Ram Puniyani said the foundation for communal discrimination was laid by the British as part of their `divide and rule’ policy; and it did not existbefore. Unfortunately, it has been multiplied ever since.
He further said ``There may be good politicians; but anyone who uses religion for political gains must be condemned. Mahatma Gandhi was a very religious person, but did not use religion for politics. In fact, when a ban on cow slaughter was once proposed to Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation had not approved the proposal.
Gndhiji had reportedly said ``cow is sacred to Hindu religion, but India is not just for Hindus, it is a secular country.’’ Likewise, Maulana AbulKalam Azad too didn’t talk about religion during the partition of India”. He said the people should understand from these examples and uphold the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and AbulKalam and such people who laid a truly secular foundation for India.
He further brought out the three so called divisions prevailing in India - the `Muslim Nationalists’, Hindu Nationalist and the Indian Nationalists - the latter being the true torch bearers of nationalism.
He concluded with saying ``people must fight and protest politics of religion and uphold the secular values, like the recent nation-wide “NOT IN MY NAME” campaign.
