Our present-day politicians do not care for the people and they have no respect for the common man, especially the minority communities. In the name of religion, they destroy religious structures and kill people belonging to the Christian faith. In India, Christians are being persecuted a lot. Our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi should know that Christians in spite of being numerically a small minority community, has contributed a lot to the nation. And they are still doing it to a large extent.
Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India is said to have left a will to his son, Humayun which is still preserved in the State Museum of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. The contents of the will are that Babur informs his son Humayun that India is the hometown of many religions and he has to be respectful and impartial towards all of them and ought not to burn, destroy or disturb any shrine of any religious order. But what is happening today? Many religious structures and shrines are being destroyed, demolished or desecrated. Our present-day politicians do not care for the people and have no respect for the common man; especially the minority communities (read Christians and Muslims). In the name of religion, they destroy/desecrate religious structures and kill god’s holy people.
I quote what India’s freedom fighter, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan has said: “My religion is truth, love and service to God and humanity. Every religion that has come into the world has brought the message of love and brotherhood. Those who are indifferent to the welfare of their fellowmen, whose hearts are empty of love, they do not know the meaning of religion.”
Pope Francis, the present Head of the Roman Catholic Church has also said in his personal message to Muslims on January 14, 2014 that we must respect the faith of others. He further added that we must think and talk respectfully about other people’s religions and their followers. He also stated that one must stay away from criticizing the beliefs and practices of people of other faiths and that we are called to respect one another’s religions no matter which God they worship or venerate and we need to respect their teachings and values too. He said that when we respect the religion of our friends and neighbours, we are extending our warm regards to them. Thus we easily share in their joys and sorrows. Mutual respect is the foundation of any relation, especially between different religions. Thus we grow in genuine and lasting brotherhood.
Jubel D’Cruz
