INTRODUCTION
Religion plays a very important role in society. It either integrates society or disintegrates society. In India there are many religions and people are closely connected with their religions. It is even exalted to politics as it impacts the voting behaviour of people.
ROLE OF RELIGION IN POLITICS:-
- RELIGION BASED POLITICAL PARTIES :- Unlike caste, religion based political parties are formed to target particular portions of people to get the votes. Example, All Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim league are religion based parties which target groups of one religion.
- RELIGION BASED PRESSURE GROUPS :- Not only political parties but pressure groups are also based on religion which are formed to fulfil the interest of their religion only and pressurise the government accordingly. For example, Anglo-Indian and Christian Associations, Catholic Bishops Association and many more.
- RELIGION AND VOTING BEHAVIOUR :- Religion also impacts the voting behaviour of people. People vote for their religion and they think the parties of their religion will be beneficial for their religion.
- CONSTITUTION AND RELIGION :- CONSTITUTION of India is secular in nature and their are provisions in Indian Constitution for secularism which are mentioned under different articles such as :- Article 14,15,16,17,25,26,27,28,29,30,325.
- COMMUNAL RIOTS :- Communal riots are the most common thing in Indian politics. Earth religions tend to dominate others by establishing their supremacy which leads to clashes and atrocities and gives rise to communal hatred and violence.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it is clear that people are connected to their religion emotionally and this emotions creates a feeling of supremacy of their religion in society for which they tend to empower political parties who support their religion.