NEW DELHI, March 18 -- The recent controversy surrounding the names of two lions, Sita and Akbar, at a zoo in Kolkata, has ignited a heated debate about the power of religious beliefs and their impact on society. This incident, which escalated to a plea in the High Court, serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between religious sensitivities and secular values in India. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad's petition challenging the names of the lions as "blasphemous" and an "assault on Hindu religious beliefs" is a clear example of how religious sensitivities can lead to irrational and extreme reactions.

The VHP's argument that naming a lioness after Sita, a revered figure in Hindu mythology, alongside a lion named Akbar, a Mughal empe...