“If War in God’s Name Promises Heaven, Where Will Peace Come From?”, questions MP Basavaraj Bommai

18 Jan, 2026

Gadag (Mundaragi): Former Chief Minister and Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday expressed serious concern over growing extremism in the name of religion, warning that such ideologies pose a grave threat to global peace.
Speaking at the centenary celebrations of Sri Jagadguru Annadaneshwara Vidya Samiti in Mundaragi town of Gadag district, Bommai said, “If people are told that fighting in the name of God will lead them to heaven, then where will peace come from? Terrorism being carried out in the name of God and religion is deeply alarming. Once such forces are unleashed, they are beyond anyone’s control.”

He stressed that faith is essential for human life, but blind faith can be dangerous. “We must have confidence in life and creation, but that confidence should be guided by reason. Faith combined with rational thinking becomes spirituality, while questioning blind belief through logic becomes knowledge,” he said. Human intellect, he added, is meant to distinguish truth from falsehood, much like a processor that analyses and filters information.
Bommai also spoke at length about so-called miracles, urging people to recognise the wonders of everyday life. “When a farmer sows one seed and harvests hundreds, is that not a miracle? When a drop of rain becomes a river, or when a child grows in the mother’s womb for nine months and continues life after birth, are these not miracles?” he asked, adding that awareness of such daily wonders helps people appreciate the greatness of human life and creation.
Emphasising the role of knowledge, Bommai said, “From knowledge comes science, from science technology, and from technology artificial intelligence. But today, everything—including ethics, justice, and even conscience—is being outsourced. This is dangerous.” Amid globalisation, privatisation, and liberalisation, society has forgotten inner values, he warned, stating that education without conscience is meaningless.

Highlighting the importance of culture and humanity, Bommai said ideologies that glorify violence in the name of religion undermine peace. “Any belief that teaches a person they are born to fight in God’s name will only lead to destruction,” he said.
He praised the Mundaragi Math for completing 100 years of service, calling it a “kalpavriksha” for the region. Recalling the guru–shishya tradition, he said true education lies not in ranks or marks, but in learning humanity. “Success gains meaning only when it benefits others. That alone is real achievement,” he concluded.
Several senior swamijis, legislators, MPs, and local leaders were present on the occasion.

Publisher: ಕನ್ನಡ ನಾಡು | Kannada Naadu