April 3, 2012
DC
Hyderabad
The new trend of politicians increasingly using festivals to bolster their image and the image of the parties they represent, has created a sense of unease among the various communities in the state.
The recent communal flare-up in Sangareddy of Medak district is an example of the thin line separating politics and religions getting thinner.
The unprecedented backing given by sitting Congress MLA T. Jayaprakash Reddy to the Ramnavami celebrations reflects the increasing intrusion of politicos into purely religious affairs.
The 4-km road from the National Highway to the town is dotted by scores of flexiboards of Lord Ram and photos of Mr Jayaprakash Reddy, put up by the followers of the Congress MLA.
Perhaps for the first time, devotees even took out ratha yatras in the town and nearby places, indicating the rise of “Ram politics.”
“Ramnavami was quite unusual here this time. So many flexiboards were never seen earlier in the town. It is rumoured that the MLA, who had crossed from the BJP to the Congress, may return to the BJP in 2014 elections,” a local leader said.
In the past three years, celebrating festivals like Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, Ramnavami and Hanuman Jayanti by various communities in a big way has become increasingly competitive.
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/hyderabad/politicos-play-religion-game-111
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