{"id":13659,"date":"2026-08-11T11:24:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T05:54:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/?p=13659"},"modified":"2026-08-11T11:27:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T05:57:30","slug":"13659-mixing-religion-with-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/?p=13659","title":{"rendered":"Religion, Power and Political Expediency: Swami Raghavendra Questions Congress\u2019 Ideological Stand After Delhi Sadhus\u2019 March"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

\u2018A Noble Aim Cannot Be Achieved Through Impure Means\u2019: Swami Raghavendra Questions Mixing Religion With Political Ambition<\/span><\/h2>\n

Satya Dharam Samvad convenor criticises Delhi march led by Computer Baba, questions Pappu Yadav\u2019s participation and asks Congress to clarify whether electoral power can justify ideological compromises<\/span><\/h4>\n

New Delhi:<\/strong> Swami Raghavendra, Convenor of Satya Dharam Samvad,<\/strong> has sharply criticised a protest march involving Computer Baba and a group of sadhus in Delhi, describing the episode as politically confused and raising broader questions about the increasing intersection of religion, electoral politics and the pursuit of power.<\/p>\n

In an authored commentary, Raghavendra argued that Indian philosophical traditions have long warned against separating political objectives from the morality of the means employed to achieve them.<\/p>\n

\u201cA noble objective cannot be achieved through impure means. If political power becomes the ultimate goal, the principles that supposedly distinguish one political formation from another begin to lose their meaning,\u201d he argued.<\/p>\n

Sadhus\u2019 March to PMO Stopped<\/h2>\n

According to Raghavendra, Computer Baba, a former Madhya Pradesh minister who has taken varying political positions over the years, led more than 100 sadhus from Mandi House with plans to march towards the Prime Minister\u2019s Office and submit a memorandum.<\/p>\n

The procession was stopped because it allegedly lacked the required administrative permission. Raghavendra said Delhi Police subsequently took around four mahants to the PMO, where they claimed they were asked to join the regular queue. Feeling insulted, they returned and addressed the media.<\/p>\n

He questioned why most of the sadhus who had initially assembled were no longer visible when the delegation returned. The remaining religious leaders reportedly complained that their memorandum had not received appropriate attention and described the episode as an insult to Lord Rama. They also announced plans for individual \u201csamadhi\u201d<\/strong> protests at Atal Samadhi, but Raghavendra claimed the prominent participants had disappeared by evening.<\/p>\n

Pappu Yadav\u2019s Participation Questioned<\/h2>\n

Raghavendra reserved particular criticism for Independent Purnia MP Pappu Yadav, who, according to the article, joined the protesting sadhus and lay on the road after the procession was stopped.<\/p>\n

He also referred to Yadav\u2019s earlier appearance in Parliament dressed as a sadhu and noted that Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati<\/strong> had sought to defend that episode through references to classical traditions.<\/p>\n

Seeing Yadav chanting \u201cJai Jai Shri Ram\u201d<\/strong> alongside the protesters, Raghavendra said, raises a larger political question.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhere does the Congress stand? Does it stand with personalities who have advocated ideas such as Hindu Rashtra, or with Mahatma Gandhi\u2019s fundamental principle that the purity of the means determines the character of the end?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"
\u2018Is Political Power the Ultimate Goal?\u2019 Swami Raghavendra Questions Congress Over Pappu Yadav\u2019s Participation in Sadhus\u2019 Protest<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The commentary notes that Pappu Yadav is an Independent MP politically aligned with the Congress, but does not establish that the Congress formally organised or endorsed the Delhi protest.<\/p>\n

\u2018Is Political Power the Ultimate End?\u2019<\/h2>\n

Raghavendra also criticised Computer Baba\u2019s political trajectory, referring to his past support for Hindu Rashtra, his opposition to the BJP<\/strong> over the Ram Temple issue and controversial statements concerning Muslims.<\/p>\n

He questioned whether political parties claiming commitment to scientific temper and sarva-dharma-sambhava<\/em>,<\/strong> or equal respect for all religions, should directly or indirectly associate themselves with religious figures whose political positions may conflict with those principles.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cEven if political power can be regained through such alliances, what fundamentally changes in the country? Is acquiring power itself the final objective?\u201d Raghavendra asked.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He invoked Mahatma Gandhi\u2019s ethical conception of means and ends, arguing that the means are comparable to a seed and the eventual political outcome to the tree it produces.<\/p>\n

Ancient Warning About Political Opportunism<\/h2>\n

Drawing on Bhart\u1e5bhari\u2019s N\u012bti\u015bataka<\/strong>, Raghavendra said classical Indian thought had recognised politics\u2019 capacity to constantly change its character, becoming truthful or false, harsh or pleasant, compassionate or violent depending upon expediency.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn such circumstances, any claim of bringing qualitative reform to Indian politics risks becoming empty rhetoric if principles are compromised merely for electoral advantage,\u201d he said, directing the question particularly towards the Congress.<\/p>\n

Raghavendra concluded with a literary reflection, invoking Mirza Ghalib\u2019s celebrated description of the world as a children\u2019s playground where spectacles unfold day and night.<\/p>\n

For him, the Delhi episode represents a larger and more uncomfortable question confronting contemporary Indian politics: Can political parties credibly promise ethical and ideological change if the pursuit of power persuades them to compromise the very principles they claim to defend?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
    \n
  1. \u201cA noble aim can never be achieved through impure means. The purity of political means ultimately determines the character of the end.\u201d \u2014 Swami Raghavendra<\/strong>
    \u201c\u0928\u0947\u0915 \u092e\u0915\u0938\u0926 \u0915\u092d\u0940 \u0905\u092a\u0935\u093f\u0924\u094d\u0930 \u0938\u093e\u0927\u0928\u094b\u0902 \u0938\u0947 \u0939\u093e\u0938\u093f\u0932 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u091c\u093e \u0938\u0915\u0924\u093e\u0964 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0928\u0940\u0924\u093f \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u093e\u0927\u0928\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u0940 \u0936\u0941\u0926\u094d\u0927\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0940 \u0905\u0902\u0924\u0924\u0903 \u092a\u0930\u093f\u0923\u093e\u092e \u0915\u093e \u091a\u0930\u093f\u0924\u094d\u0930 \u0924\u092f \u0915\u0930\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948\u0964\u201d \u2014 \u0938\u094d\u0935\u093e\u092e\u0940 \u0930\u093e\u0918\u0935\u0947\u0902\u0926\u094d\u0930<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. \u201cIs acquiring political power itself the ultimate objective? If principles are compromised merely to gain power, what meaningful change can such politics bring to the country?\u201d \u2014 Swami Raghavendra<\/strong>
    \u201c\u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0928\u0940\u0924\u093f\u0915 \u0938\u0924\u094d\u0924\u093e \u0939\u093e\u0938\u093f\u0932 \u0915\u0930\u0928\u093e \u0939\u0940 \u0905\u0902\u0924\u093f\u092e \u0932\u0915\u094d\u0937\u094d\u092f \u0939\u0948? \u092f\u0926\u093f \u0938\u0924\u094d\u0924\u093e \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u090f \u0938\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0927\u093e\u0902\u0924\u094b\u0902 \u0938\u0947 \u0938\u092e\u091d\u094c\u0924\u093e \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u091c\u093e\u090f, \u0924\u094b \u0910\u0938\u0940 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0928\u0940\u0924\u093f \u0926\u0947\u0936 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0906\u0916\u093f\u0930 \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0938\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0925\u0915 \u092c\u0926\u0932\u093e\u0935 \u0932\u093e \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948?\u201d \u2014 \u0938\u094d\u0935\u093e\u092e\u0940 \u0930\u093e\u0918\u0935\u0947\u0902\u0926\u094d\u0930<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. \u201cIf Congress claims to stand for scientific temper and Sarva-Dharma-Sambhava<\/em>, it must clarify where it stands when political expediency collides with its professed principles.\u201d \u2014 Swami Raghavendra<\/strong>
    \u201c\u092f\u0926\u093f \u0915\u093e\u0902\u0917\u094d\u0930\u0947\u0938 \u0935\u0948\u091c\u094d\u091e\u093e\u0928\u093f\u0915 \u0926\u0943\u0937\u094d\u091f\u093f\u0915\u094b\u0923 \u0914\u0930 \u0938\u0930\u094d\u0935\u0927\u0930\u094d\u092e \u0938\u092e\u092d\u093e\u0935 \u0915\u0940 \u092a\u0915\u094d\u0937\u0927\u0930 \u0939\u0948, \u0924\u094b \u0909\u0938\u0947 \u0938\u094d\u092a\u0937\u094d\u091f \u0915\u0930\u0928\u093e \u0939\u094b\u0917\u093e \u0915\u093f \u091c\u092c \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0928\u0940\u0924\u093f\u0915 \u0938\u0941\u0935\u093f\u0927\u093e \u0909\u0938\u0915\u0947 \u0918\u094b\u0937\u093f\u0924 \u0938\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0927\u093e\u0902\u0924\u094b\u0902 \u0938\u0947 \u091f\u0915\u0930\u093e\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948, \u0924\u092c \u0935\u0939 \u0906\u0916\u093f\u0930 \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0915\u0947 \u0938\u093e\u0925 \u0916\u0921\u093c\u0940 \u0939\u0948?\u201d \u2014 \u0938\u094d\u0935\u093e\u092e\u0940 \u0930\u093e\u0918\u0935\u0947\u0902\u0926\u094d\u0930<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n

    #SwamiRaghavendra #IndianPolitics #PoliticalEthics #MahatmaGandhi #SarvaDharmaSambhava #ConstitutionalValues #ReligiousPolitics #Congress #Democracy #PoliticalAccountability<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    <\/div>\n

    <\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    \u2018A Noble Aim Cannot Be Achieved Through Impure Means\u2019: Swami Raghavendra Questions Mixing Religion With Political Ambition Satya Dharam Samvad convenor criticises Delhi march led by Computer Baba, questions Pappu Yadav\u2019s participation and asks Congress to clarify whether electoral power can justify ideological compromises New Delhi: Swami Raghavendra, Convenor of Satya Dharam Samvad, has sharply […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":56,"today_views":0},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13659"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13664,"href":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13659\/revisions\/13664"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianow.me\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}