Rajendra Prasad, while President, officiating over the opening of the Somnath temple.
Pranab Mukherjee, while President, going to his hometown to take part as ‘yajmaan’ in a pooja.
Narendra Modi, while Prime Minister, being the ‘yajmaan’ at the groundbreaking pooja and havan at the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Hardeep Puri, while a minister in the Union cabinet, barefoot and carrying copies of the Granth Sahib on his head.
These are not exhaustive, because this seems to be a trend in Indian politics. But all of these images are the antithesis of what we, as a democratic republic are and promise ourselves to be. A truly democratic republic shall eschew all overt displays of religion by elected officials and representatives, regardless of how devout they are and how holy or significant the moment.
I am anti-religion, but only insofar as the denial of religious ritual, practice, and faith comes intrinsically, and not via fiat or state mandate. That said, I have zero problems with the sitting President or Minister or Prime Minister practising their religion away from the public eye. (Side note: That, of course, is not entirely true, but I will agree that at least it is none of my business). I even have no problem with someone who is not occupying a public office to make a song & dance about their religion, pray, donate, even take up the cause of their specific faith and the faithful. But to be in office as an elected representative of all Indians, which include people of all faiths (and lack thereof), and then officiate over a religious ritual is appalling and honestly, contempt of our Constitution, which we gave ourselves voluntarily and collectively, not long ago.
The worst part is not only do we not see this as completely and totally unconstitutional, unethical, and cringeworthy, but also hold these incidents up and fete these individuals for their actions collectively cheering from both the media and the legislature, with perhaps only the judiciary and executive remaining silent mostly because no one asked their opinion about it yet.
But suffice to that if I, as a non-Sikh, were to take objection to this, it would be ME who would be ridiculed and thrown out of courts, arrested by the police, and charged with IPC 153(A): ‘Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.’ with literally no one seeing the irony in this.
Nehru was rightfully vehemently opposed to this, and made certain in no terms how he felt about the whole Somnath fiasco with Patel and Munshi and Rajendra Prasad, indeed his entire cabinet standing against him. Unfortunately, even his own daughter, and subsequently other Prime Ministers of the country, did not follow his advice. The result is there for all to see.
