By Aravind Bhatikar
KARL Marx, a German philosopher and a political theorist, wrote in the 19th century that rulers of poor and oppressed societies who cannot uplift the masses from poverty and suffering, try to divert their attention towards religion – after all it is a known fact that religion is often the opiate of the masses. In the 21st century much of Marx’s theory has proved to be wrong. But what he said about religion is being proved right by the BJP government in our country today. Our country is passing through a difficult period. The BJP government seems to have succeeded in diverting the attention of the masses from the pressing problems of unemployment, poverty and hunger to elusive religious issues.
Unless we wake up now and start thinking about the material problems that confront our lives and the failure of the present government to solve these, it will not be long before the country descends into irreversible chaos. It is important to ask questions and seek replies and elect a government in 2024 which can plan and implement concrete economic projects to generate employment and wealth for the common people of the country. Rather than mislead us all the time by empty rhetoric and abstract dreams. We must ask ourselves the following questions:
- Am I a Hindu? If yes, do I have the minimum knowledge of my religion?
- If I believe in my religion, should I also not obey the diktat of the 4 Shankaracharyas, the religious heads of “Sanatan Dharma?”
- Is Narendra Modi right in conducting the “Pran Pratisthan” of the new Ram temple in Ayodhya which remains incomplete as only 40% of the planned temple is constructed. Should Narendra Modi inaugurate the temple when the 4 Shankaracharya of Hindu religion have clearly declared that it is a “Pran Pratisthan” of an incomplete temple and this against “Sanatan Dharma” Shastra?
- Should we not, as conscious and alert citizens of our country, distinguish between BJP’s mala fide action to politicize and misuse the Ram temple to get political gains in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when our actual issues are those of unemployment, poverty, hunger, inflation and the lawlessness of the BJP government at the Centre and in some states?
Think about the answers and do your duty towards the country!
