India, July 28 -- The statement, "Religion is the opium of the people," is attributed to Karl Marx. According to Marx, religion, while offering temporary relief, ultimately serves to maintain the status quo by pacifying the masses and preventing them from challenging the systems that cause their suffering. History also reveals that religious conflicts have often led to violence and, at times, even wars. The two centuries of Crusades stand as prominent examples of how religious strife triggered prolonged warfare during the Middle Ages. Once people are sedated by the drug of religion, it becomes easy to mobilise them for political purposes, including through acts of violence and vandalism.

The Wire, on July 16, reported that 170 Kanwariyas...