Religion should not be used as a vote bank in politics,” said Ghulam Azad. (File)
In his speech, Ghulam Nabi Azad, DPAP chairman, highlighted the issue of religion in politics and its impact on India’s Muslim population. He claimed that a majority of Indian Muslims have converted from Hinduism, citing the example of Kashmir Valley where many Kashmiri Pandits converted to Islam. Azad emphasized that religion should not be exploited for political gains, stating that relying on religion in politics indicates weakness. He refuted claims that some Muslims had come from outside, asserting that Islam’s existence spans only 1,500 years, while Hinduism is much older. He mentioned that the Kashmiri Muslim population had originally been Kashmiri Pandits who converted over time.
Azad drew a parallel between Hindu and Muslim practices, explaining that Hindus’ cremated ashes mix with river water and are inadvertently consumed, while Muslims’ remains become part of the nation’s soil. He stressed the unity of both communities within the land and criticized the use of religion for electoral purposes. Azad urged for voting decisions to transcend religious considerations, suggesting that religion should not function as a vote bank. He implied that voting should be based on factors beyond religious identity. Azad’s speech encourages a focus on secular and unifying principles in politics rather than exploiting religious divisions for electoral gains.
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