It is essential to resist the use of religion in politics - Sumi Khan

The use of religion in politics in South Asian countries is increasing alarmingly.

The reason behind it is to split up the people during the election and to establish

hegemony over them, thus occupy the power. The percentage of literacy in South

Asian countries is comparatively low. People here are not too politically conscious.

As a result communalism is spreading. We can give some example here.

In 2001, with the patronization of government [BNP Jamat led coalition

government], not only communalism but militancy and religious fundamentalism

emerged in Bangladesh. By helping the emergence of communalism and militancy

so that they can establish hegemony, they did conspiracy to kill Sheikh Hasina for

several times. The grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina was one such attempt. They

become so strong that they have taken stand against the war crime. Their odious

activities become stronger as the election is ahead of. In India with the

patronization of some political parties Hindutuva is getting stronger. Communal

riot is taking place. The latest example of communal riot in India occurred in

Muzaffar Nagore. In India too communal forces come out ahead of the election. In

Pakistan long time military rule not only gave way to the rise of militancy but the

military government constituted sharia law. In some cases it indulged Tallebans.

Al these things made the very existence of Pakistan into question. After the civil

war of Srilanka, the communal relation between Budhdha and Muslim is disrupted.

In Nepal, there is also political instability. Even in Myanmar, ethnic and religious

conflict is in a rising trend.

This situation is an impediment to ongoing economic development. The

situation also hinders the bid to establish democracy in South Asian countries. This

circumstance created instability in the society. If the political parties would stop

their attempt to establish hegemony using religion, the average growth rate would

be high and more people could avoid the poverty line.

On the contrary, part of the civil society of South Asian countries is trying to

resist this trend. However, they are to retreat for the aggressive nature of the

religious fundamentalism. In other words they are to compromise with the

religious fundamentalism. In South Asian countries all the achievements to

establish secular and democratic society through longtime movement are at stake.

The duty of the civil society is now to make a political resistance against the use of

religion in politics. This can be done by making the root level people aware of the

benefit of secular democracy and creating public awareness for the secular

democracy.

It is in this context we have arranged a public lecture which we titled as

`Religion and Politics: South Asia'. South Asian experts have participated the

lecture. They lecture on it, which we think is a kind of political consciousness. We

hope that the secular, democratic minded civil society will not think only their

individual countries but they will work for the subcontinent to consider South Asia

as one unit. This is because, South Asian countries are interdependent.

Let us come up with the slogan: `Resist the use of religion in politics, ban

religion in politics, religion is individual matter, but state is for all'. Secular

democratic society is the key to the development and freedom of economy and

society. Let us stand together to resist communalism, militancy, religious

fundamentalism. Non-communal, secular and people oriented history can be an

important tool.

To this end we should extend our support to the make stronger the politics of

the parties who are working for our cause.