Indian politics and religion
Himanshu
India is a country with a rich history and a diverse cultural heritage. Religion has played an important role in shaping Indian politics since the days of its independence in 1947. India is a secular country and the constitution guarantees freedom of religion to all citizens. However, religion remains a sensitive and contentious issue in Indian politics. India is home to many religions including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism and others. Hinduism is the dominant religion, followed by about 80% of the population. Muslims form the second largest religious group, followed by Christians, Sikhs and others. Religion and politics in India are closely linked. Religion plays an important role in mobilizing voters and shaping political discourse. Political parties often use religion as a tool to garner votes, especially in elections. This gave rise to communal politics, which seeks to divide people on religious grounds for political gain. The Ayodhya dispute is one of the most important religious issues in Indian politics. The dispute centers on land in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, which is claimed by both Hindus and Muslims. The conflict has been going on for decades and has resulted in communal violence and riots. The issue was finally resolved in November 2019 by the Supreme Court of India, which authorized the construction of a Hindu temple (Ram Mandir) on the site and provided alternative land for the Muslim community to build. a mosque.
Another important issue in Indian politics is the reservation system. The reservation system was introduced in India to ensure that members of disadvantaged communities such as Dalits and Adivasis have equal access to education and employment opportunities. However, the reservation system also gave rise to caste-based politics, with political parties often using caste as a tool to garner votes. The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), currently in power, is often accused of promoting Hindu nationalism and communal politics. The party's ideology is based on Hindutva, which seeks to make India a Hindu rashtra or a Hindu nation. The BJP's rise to power has been accompanied by an increase in communal violence and the polarization of Indian society. The main opposition Congress party has also been accused of playing the religion card in the election. The party has been accused of courting Muslim voters to win their support. However, the Congress party has also been a proponent of secularism and has been instrumental in building a secular India. Finally, religion and politics are closely linked in India. While India is a secular country, religion remains a sensitive and contentious issue in Indian politics. Communal politics and caste-based politics are prominent challenges before Indian politics. The need of the hour is to promote secularism and ensure that religion is not used as a tool to divide people for political ends. Only then can India truly become a tolerant and inclusive society
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