The government must keep the Sanathan and other militant religious fundamentalists alive just like USA needs the excuse of the Al-Quaeda to intrude into Asia. What would have been the fate of politicians and political outfits in this country if the religous fundamentalists did not exist since independence? We need to eliminate the maoists and the naxalites at any cost because they remind us of the harsh reality - the rich and poor divide and exploitation - and they are a hindrance to the rich man's ( (politicians included) greed for exploiting the natural resources in the north-east. The maoists and naxalites cannot be prefered to religous fundamentalists because they (naxalites and maoists) keep on embarassing the rich of this country by keeping alive the fact that there are millions of oppressed and exploited in this country. We definitely need the religious fundamentalist outfits and they should not be banned without sufficient evidence of their terror activities. After all how can we be so ungrateful and forget the great contributions of these religious fanatics in independent India who have helped in the polarisation of vote banks? And how will Digambar Kamat and the plundering forces distract the people of Goa from the mass land conversions, destructions of forests and agricultural land, corruption and mega construction, if religious fanatics do not kill themselves with country bombs and heighten communal passions by desecrating temples? How will Digambar Kamat and band of 40 jolly politicians keep the people of Goa entertained if the most emotive issue of religion is capped once and for all. If religious divide does not exist in Goa, how will the real estate lobby justify their claim that it is the church which is instigating the anti-development agitations because the christians are getting out numbered in Goa? If a few more temples and churches are not desecrated, politicians would find it extremely difficult to distract the public from the on-going destruction of Goa and would lose their vote banks. Just as Voltaire had said that if there was no God man would have to create one, similarly if there were no religious fanatics the politicians and the capitalist forces would need to invent them. So Manohar Parrikar, Digambar Kamat and Ravi Naik are well justified in their war over the Sanathan. We need the Togadia, Modi, Tytler, Patil and Godse to keep Goa burning so that people can be entertained with candle light processions, Jagran rally's and newspaper debates while even greater violence against Goa's environment and Goans can be continued by the politicians and exploitative forces. One can well imagine how politically explosive Goa would have been if a religious divide did not exist. India's pre-emergency era of the early seventies is a witness to the extent of political tremors that shook this country when all forces joinned hands, forcing the government to declare an emergency. Instead of banning these religous fundamentalist outfits, politicians cutting across party lines need to honour the religious fanatics for their role played in securing political stability, political distraction and the political future of a bunch of rascals.
-Soter D'Souza
