The Congress seems to be apologetic in saying ‘peccavi’ (we have sinned). If it is so, Manmohan Singh should bring out a white paper on the ‘pathetic’ conditions of the Muslims; as to why a majority of them continue to remain steeped in poverty; why a large chunk of them is illiterate; why they are unemployed; what kind of circumstances have compelled some of the Muslim youth to pickup the gun and play ‘traitor’ by falling in the ISI’s trap and indulge in nefarious activities. But similarly, Pakistan and Bangladesh should move quickly and bring out a white paper on the condition of their own residual minority communities.

There is no denying the fact that decline of the Muslim community began around 1980, when Pakistan-sponsored militancy gathered momentum. The ISI needed youth in large numbers for its dirty operations globally. Such clandestine operations have been bared naked. With the help of fundamentalists, especially the Jamaat-e-Islami, a large number of madrassas were established in the subcontinent. The scheme was to catch them young. Many madrassas have become breeding grounds for the spread of ‘jehadism’. This inevitably led to spread of illiteracy, ignorance and frenzy to kill ‘infidels’.

Some 30 years ago, the Muslim youth in Kashmir would burn midnight oil---taking advantage of free education--- and achieved laurels in different fields. But the spread of militancy in Kashmir later had a downgrading effect. Hundreds of educational institutions were burnt down. The youth had no alternative but to join ‘jihad’ force at gun-point. Even during the peak years of militancy, some Kashmiri youth picked up courage to continue education and did not fall prey to gun culture.

Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Wahida Prizm (34) of the armed forces medical college in Pune is an example. Hailing from Thana Mandi in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, she created history and passed MBBS, before she was commissioned into the Indian Navy on November 10, 1997. But she had to pay a heavy price for her boldness. Her father, a teacher, was killed by militants in 2001.

Most hurtful is Manmohan Singh’s diatribe that a large section of our population (read Muslims) is ‘worked up’ at the warming of Indo-US relations, and he would ‘convince’ the Muslim leadership that the nuclear pact between the two countries is to the benefit of India. In the first place, why should there be resentment amongst a section of the Indian society against the nuclear deal? Why should the PM reach out to the Muslims and convince them that it is a good deal?

The Muslims are worked up against the US policies in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan and not against the nuclear deal. Millions of Indians are worked up against US on such policies. In a democratic set up, communities are not consulted before entering into negotiations with other nations. Such pacts are never endorsed separately by Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians et al.

So, in a sense what Prime Minister is seeking to accomplish is sheer ‘minorityism’, and a continuation of the vote-bank policy. Muslim leaders have rebutted the Government claim that they had shown resentment against the nuclear deal. It is a pity the Congress-led Government has stooped so low to appease the Muslims. Perhaps, Manmohan Singh wants to convey to the Americans that the Congress led UPA government had taken a great risk of loosing the Muslim vote, to enable George Bush to placate US Congress for getting its endorsement for the nuclear deal.

People like Yakub Qureshi, an elected minister in Uttar Pradesh, have vitiated communal atmosphere in the country. Such people are out of control. Does he represent true picture of Islam? On the contrary, pseudo-secularists want action to be taken against teaching of Ramayana and Mahabharata in selected schools, to inculcate moral values and ideals of Ram and Krishna, to young children so that they are weaned away from violence and fundamentalism. Even Muslims have evinced interest in such lessons. The pseudo-secularists draw no distinction between the RSS-VHP combine and the militant organizations like the Lashkar-e-Toiba. The latter wants annihilation of non-believers. They are being taught such lessons in madrassas and fed on the literature supplied from the Saudi Arabia. It is outrageous. The pseudo-secularists should hear Dr Wafa Sultan, a Syrian-American psychiatrist, living in Los Angeles. On Al-Jazeera TV, he has been criticising Muslim clerics, ‘holy’ warriors and political leaders, who, she believes have ‘distorted’ the teachings of Muhammad and the Quran.

“The world’s Muslims have descended into a vortex of self-pity and violence…. The world is not witnessing a clash of religions or cultures, but a battle between modernity and barbarism”, says Sultana. Constantly on the hit list of extremists, she is engaged on a book, which she says, when published, will ‘turn Islamic world upside down’.

To appease Muslims, the Congress-led government has demanded reservation of seats for Muslims in Government and private services. The Supreme Court has already reprimanded the Andhra Pradesh Government on the issue. As if it was not enough, the Prime Minister’s office in a brazen manner has asked for headcount of Muslims in the Army, raising furore nation-wide. Only a furore forced the government to retrace its steps. For the problems confronting the Muslim community, constant appeasement is not an answer. Such practices will make them vulnerable and maligned besides making them suffer from a constant fear psychosis. Certainly, in the 21st century, this is not what Muslims or any other community, big or small would like to cherish.


Courtesy : Syndicate Features

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