Muslims getting more than their fair share

Ashadh Krushna Dwitiya

By Shridhar Pant

This refers to Mr N Jamal Ansari’s article, “Muslims let down” (July 1) that reminds the Congress of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s remark which arrogates minorities, particularly Muslims, first claim over national resources. Despite insisting on demands that smack of conspiracy to divide the nation on communal lines, like minority status for Aligarh Muslim University, etc, Mr Ansari says, “Now there is clearly a shift of emphasis from old demands to reservation and justice. The new phase marks the changed mood among Muslim masses.”

It is appalling that Mr Ansari is shy of accepting the fact that the Congress has already given more than what the Muslims have demanded over the years. It was the Congress that accepted the partition of the country on the basis of religion as per the demand of the Muslims. Further, it was the same Congress that didn’t accept the proposal of BR Ambedkar for an exchange of populations during partition and had encouraged Muslims to stay on in this country.

Towards the end of his article Mr Ansari states, “Reservations will not only become a tool of progress for the second largest population of the country, it will certainly help realise the dream of building a new India.” I would like to point out that no developed country has ever followed the policy of reservation. If any aid in the form of reservation is provided then economically backward sections of the society should get preference and not any particular community per se.

I strongly feel that a new India must be built on the basis of merit and competition rather than making certain groups ever dependent on Government handouts. Mr Ansari must ponder over the Minister for Minority Affairs, Mr Salman Khurshid’s comment: “Inject an ability to compete rather than make them constant beneficiaries of additional help.”

Even those who drafted our Constitution granted reservation only to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as these two groups had been neglected for years. On the other hand, Muslims were the rulers of this country and during their rule no non-Muslim could be appointed if a Muslim was available for the job.

Hindus need to stand together as one nation and protest against being reduced to second-class citizens in their own country.

Source: Daily Pioneer

Muslims let down: Congress has forgotten its ‘Muslims first’ policy

Before the Lok-Sabha election, the Congress in its poll manifesto declared, “The Indian National Congress is irrevocably committed to ensuring that the Constitutional rights of all minorities are protected fully, that the representation of minorities in public administration increases substantially… (It) has pioneered reservations for minorities in Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in Government employment and education on the basis of their social and economic backwardness. We are committed to adopt this policy at the national level.” (By issuing such poll manifesto, it is clear that Congress is begging to minorities for Votebank. O Hindus, be alert & prepare your Hindu Votebank!)

No doubt, people belonging to minority communities, particularly Muslims, were happy. They supported the Congress in the election. But as soon as the party formed the Government, it began to change its colours.

It is very unfortunate that Minister for Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid has opposed reservation for Muslims, thus contradicting his party’s manifesto. In an interview to a leading newspaper on June 8, he said, “Quota for Muslims is a double-edged sword which could create envy, hostility and resistance.” While rejecting reservation outrightly, he commented, “Inject an ability to compete rather than make them constant beneficiaries of additional help.” The matter does not end here. When asked about the implementation of the recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Commission for Linguistics and Religious Minorities, he expressed complete ignorance and said that he had not gone through it. It is pertinent to note that the Minister who is heading the Minority Affairs Ministry knows nothing about the Ranganath Mishra Commission Report. (Reservation based on Religion is not acceptable as per Indian Constitution, so Muslims should not demand reservation for them!)

The Congress high command and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should clarify whether the views of the Minister will overshadow the party’s commitment.

After the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, it is the first time that Muslims have voted for the Congress en masse. In the 1990s, PV Narasimha Rao adopted a policy of “soft Hindutva” which paved the way for Hindutva elements to enter state apparatuses. Rao’s ‘calculated communalism’ culminated in the Gujarat riots of 2002. It was natural that Muslims went over to the Samajwadi Party and the BSP. Even before the 15th Lok Sabha election I had advocated that Muslims should not vote for the Congress because our children are being murdered in the name of ‘war against terrorism’ like the Batla House encounter. But later I also changed my views and came to the conclusion that the Congress must get another chance.

But recent comments have made people doubtful about the real intentions of the Congress. The party should note that such views echo the BJP’s line on the issue. We should not forget that during the controversy over the Shah Bano judgement, Mr Arif Mohammed Khan and the BJP were on same wavelength.

Apropos reservation for Muslims, I wish to remind that the UPA Government had appointed the Sachar Committee to document the ground-level status of Muslims in India. The Sachar Committee report did not recommend reservation but it is not far away from it. Whatever it discussed and analysed indicates that Muslims must be brought under Constitutional umbrella. In 2006 then Minority Affairs Minister AR Antulay had said, “The report would be implemented in toto in the new year” (“Antulay’s New Year gift,” The Pioneer, December 29, 2006). But that the gift never came. (Sachar Committee report is best example of Muslim appeasement by Congress!)

It was also in 2006 that the Prime Minister at declared at the 59th National Development Council: “Minorities, particularly Muslims, will have the first claim over national resources.” Where is this “Muslim first” policy of the Congress? Since 2006, nothing has changed except that Muslims have received plates and then have been kept waiting for food to be served. (How Muslims can have first right on national resources? This country was belonging to Hindus from last lakhs of years, now also this country is Hindu majority country!)

At the same time, Muslims should also understand some facts. The state alone can never develop a community. The community itself should take positive steps to climb the ladder of development. In fact, Muslims have unique shortcomings. Most of them do not indulge in constructive things and if someone tries to set things in order, they criticise and oppose him instead of cooperating. When Sir Syed Ahmed Khan launched his educational mission, the Aligarh Movement, he was opposed. When vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University PK Abdul Azis introduced transparent and accountable administration, he was opposed. Fortunately like Sir Syed, Prof Azis is continuously pushing the AMU upward without losing courage. Muslim masses should isolate those who habitually raise roadblocks to their progress.

For the first time, Muslims are demanding something which will have a direct impact upon their economy and socio-politico status. Before the mid-1980s, Muslims felt insecure about their identity which was reflected in three issues —minority status for AMU, Muslim Personal Law and Urdu. All these demands are still pending.

Now there is clearly a shift of emphasis from old demands to reservation and justice. The new phase marks the changed mood among Muslim masses. As the Congress has committed itself to constitutional reservations for Muslims, it must fulfil its promise. Moreover, reservation will not only become a tool of progress for the second largest population of the country, it will certainly help realise the dream of building a new India. Hence, the demand deserves consideration at the earliest.

Source: Daily Pioneer