In 1947, India got freedom from Colonial rule, but after that, we gradually became prisoners of our narrow-minded thoughts and regressive social customs. We do not lead our lives according to our religions but are ready to fight and kill innocent people in the name of religion.
Religious places are used for political propaganda and religious sentiments are exploited to gain political control of the State. This emergence of a religion-political party has threatened the secular character of India. It is feared that if it succeeds there is a possibility that many other political parties may come up using the same tactics.
Mixing of religion with politics is a dangerous trend because religious attitude is diametrically opposed to democratic feelings. Religion encourages fanaticism and suspends our reasoning power and we repose full faith in leaders. We are prepared to make sacrifices because they will be considered martyrdom. This attitude is directly opposed to democratic spirit. Democracy demands open-mindedness, universal brotherhood and thinking based upon reason. In such cases, there is no herd tendency and the person is liberal in outlook.
If religious forces are allowed to become powerful there will be disintegration of the nation and sovereignty of the State will be in danger. There are a large number of religions, castes and sub-castes in India, and unfortunately, some of them are opposed to one another as far as their practices are concerned. Under such circumstances, there is no possibility of keeping them together if once there is fragmentation.
Religion is a private affair and if it is allowed to appear in public affairs it will corrupt politics. All the crimes committed in the name of religion in the past as well as in the present one cannot forget. A large number of people have been put to death in Iran only because they do not follow the Islamic religion up to the last point. So religion makes a man ignorant and it will never encourage opposition.
So if we want to consolidate democracy and make its working successful, it is necessary that the people should keep religion apart from politics. It is wrong to think that with the help of laws it is possible to divorce religion from politics. Till the attitude of the people is changed, and till they rise above the petty considerations it is not possible to keep religion and politics apart. By keeping them independent of each other, we can retain democratic set-up