Some politicians without any substance of their own manipulate the religious beliefs of simple folks to achieve their ends, whilst some people who claim to be religious eye the benefits they can derive from proximity to political power.
Khushwant Singh, the outspoken Indian writer, used to write a column in the "Hindustan Times" entitled "With malice to one and all". On 1 May 1982, during the period when some Sikhs were rioting to have their own State he, although himself a prominent Sikh, castigated those Sikhs who "suddenly have decided that smoking (never alcohol), although it may be indulged in half a mile away from the temple, violates its sanctity." A familiar clarion call these days!
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