hidden image

Hungry Kids, Divisive Politics: Is religion above the Constitution?

Varghese Alengaden Varghese Alengaden
28 Sep 2020

Governments in Pakistan and other Islamic countries are accused of being controlled by the fanatic religious leaders. It was the same situation in Europe where the nexus between religion and politics was known as ‘marriage between the Church and the State’. Whenever politics and religion were mixed the human rights were blatantly violated and the spiritual values were abandoned.  

People of India are not learning from the mistakes of the past. Despite having an ancient  heritage of  diversity where universal spiritual values  were practiced, the people of this ancient civilization are getting fooled by the corrupt  politicians and hypocritical  god-men of all religions. Many decisions  of the government  are against the foundational  values of the Constitution and they violate human rights. 

Proposal to give eggs to children in anganwadis was first suggested to MP Government of BJP in 2009 as part of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Child Health and Nutrition Mission to address the issue of malnutrition. The suggestion was carried out by the government  all these years . Jain Monks under the leadership of Acharya Vidyasagar objected to this practice and the Jain community has been opposing this practice. 

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chowhan succumbed to the pressure of the Jain community rejecting the demand of Imarti Devi, Women and Child Development minister, because of the by-elections for 28 constituencies which will decide the fate of his government. The government has decided to give milk to children instead of egg, only to satisfy the Jain monks and community. Has the government ever foreseen the possibility of adulteration in milk by businessmen and bureaucrats which can cause even death of children? 

Appreciating the decision of the government the Jain monk said, “Vegetarianism is the basic mantra of living in sync with nature and being non-violent”. Jain community representative Kamal Agrawal said, “We have been working to ensure that children are not tempted and forced to become non- vegetarian for a decade”.    

Imposing   practices and beliefs of one community on all others is violation of the Constitution. Aggressive and hostile ways of thinking, talking and acting   against any one is violence. Denying the rights and habits of others either by the state or by a powerful majority community is violence. It is violation of fundamental rights. 

Leaders and god-men of all faith need introspection and contemplation on their own spiritual values instead of holding on to the traditional practices and beliefs. Politicians violate the Constitution when they succumb to pressure of a community or god-men for vote –bank politics.

It is also important to find out how many children from Jain community go to Anganwadi centres. Since Jain community is rich, hardly any one of their children go to these centres for free meal. Children from the poor families mostly,  SC – ST communities benefit from this project  and they suffer from hunger and malnutrition.  
 
Imposing the food habits, culture, language, traditions of the majority community on others is against the spiritual values of the Constitution. When politicians and governments succumb to the pressure of a community and god-men they are violating the Constitution. In such situation Constitution of India becomes a decorative book just like the sacred books of all faith to be placed on the shelves. They become objects of worship and decoration.

In a land where walking naked is considered obscene and a violation of law, no one is objecting Jain Monks walking naked in public. Why should then, Muslim women be looked down upon wearing black burkas? 

Accepting, appreciating and promoting the differences in worship, food habits, music and dance is the pluralistic spirituality of India. This makes India unique in the world. 

Recent Posts

It is not surprising that India has been lukewarm to Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical on Artificial Intelligence. The Pope has warned that Artificial Intelligence threatens to normalise an "anti-human vision
apicture John Dayal
01 Jun 2026
What began as a "special revision" of electoral rolls has evolved into something far more unsettling: a test of who truly belongs in the Republic. By upholding the Election Commission's powers while o
apicture A. J. Philip
01 Jun 2026
Two newly elected governments, two sharply different visions of India. While West Bengal's new BJP regime signals majoritarian assertion and ideological confrontation, Kerala's UDF government projects
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
01 Jun 2026
As concern for climate change and environmental destruction grows, the deeper crisis of "human ecology" is often ignored. From family breakdown to abortion and demographic imbalance, the defence of hu
apicture Bp Gerald John Mathias
01 Jun 2026
A movement born from mockery of unemployed youth now commands millions, headlines, and political panic. But beneath the cockroach memes and anti-establishment spectacle lies a deeper question haunting
apicture Oliver D'Souza
01 Jun 2026
India's rise cannot be measured by GDP, expressways, or digital ambition alone. A Republic becomes truly developed only when constitutional promises translate into dignity, employment, equality, justi
apicture Jaswant Kaur
01 Jun 2026
"If an untouchable marries a non-Dalit girl, then he must be put to death. If untouchable commits adultery with a Hindu woman, then he is to be burned alive" (Matsya Purana, 227.131; Vaishtha Grhyasut
apicture Dr Suryaraju Mattimalla
01 Jun 2026
My lifelong passion is cricket, and in more recent times, the political world has become an obsession, not joyful as with cricket, but born of a profound anxiety about the state of the world. Given su
apicture Mathew John
01 Jun 2026
The saddest part is that twenty-two lakh students studied honestly. Millions of parents worried honestly. Teachers taught honestly. Yet a handful of dishonest people have managed to drag one of the co
apicture Robert Clements
01 Jun 2026
India's political summer is witnessing impulsive governance, bulldozer crackdowns, and inflammatory rhetoric symbolised by "cockroaches." From hurried populism to selective demolitions and anti-minori
apicture Julian S Das
25 May 2026