Leaders of six major reli- gions in India have made a joint call to end branding people as patriotic or unpatriotic based on religion amid increasing attempts to exploit religious sentiments for political purposes ahead of a crucial election.
Leaders of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Muslim and Sikh communities gathered on April 5 in the western state of Goa to express their distress at communal tension in several areas of the country.
“We strongly object to anyone taking control of individual decisions. No one is to be categorized as anti- national or non-patriotic based on his religion, region or community,” said a statement issued at the end of a meeting initiated by Catholic priests in collaboration with the Indian bishops’ conference.
Every Indian has dignity, respect and the right to decide what to eat, who to marry and their faith, the statement said, alluding to pro-Hindu groups imposing restrictions on Christians, Muslims and socially poor Dalit groups.
India is preparing for a national election next year as reports emerge of religion- based tensions in the major states of West Bengal, Bihar and Rajasthan.
