What is communal politics ? What is the basis of communal politics? What are its effects.

(i) What is communal politics ? The use of religion in politics in the following manner is called communal politics :
(a) Religion is seen as basis of nation.
(b) Religion is expressed in politics in exclusive and partisan terms. One religion and its followers are pitted against another.
(c) Beliefs of one religion are presented as superior to those of other religions.
(d) The demands of one religious group are formed in opposition to another.
(e) State power is used to establish domination of one religious group over the rest.
(ii) Basis of communal Politics:
(a) It is based on the idea that religion is the principal basis of social community.
(b) It believes that the followers of a particular religion must belong to one community’ Their fundamental interests are the same.
(c) It believes that people who follow different religions cannot belong to the same social community.
(d) It believes-that people belonging religions cannot live as equal citizens within one nation. Either, one of them has to dominate the rest or they have to form different nations.
(iii) Effects: The relationship between religion and politics is good as long as every religion is treated equally but if used as the basis of the nation (Northern Ireland) or on partisan (Muslim terms League before independence) it may lead to disastrous consequences.
(iv) Conclusion: The belief of communal ism has some flaws because people of one religion do not have the same interests and aspirations in every context. For example, before independence Muslims were members of the Congress as well as Muslims League. It implies that there are many voices within a community which should not be suppressed.