Poverty and unemployment is not a problem of a particular religion. It is wide spread in every religion. Thus discriminating Muslims is unwarranted and dangerous.

The recent judgement of Allahabad High Court terming UP Muslims as no more minorities, though stayed by two member judges later, is a siren-blower judgement to the nation. Many articles continue to appear in newspapers. "Think aloud" in Indian Express by Shri Sudheendra Kulkarni is a genuine attempt to define 'minority'. He raised an important question-at what point of time in the last thousand years, did the Indian Muslims became a minority'? To further this argument, to what extent Muslims to continue to claims rights under minority, say up to 49.9 per cent! After this mark will they turn the table to one similar to pre-independence days' claim as led by Jinnah or towards agles. pro-Pak agitation as seen in J & K? Such symptoms are already visible in some pockets.

This being the scenario, the so-called secular parties, making a beeline, in lending their ears to the 'minority' demands, shell out appeasement policies just to win over their vote banks. Election after elections they play the minority card for political gains. Even the Congress party, after listening to Jinnah, failed to prevent the aftermath of partition, where millions lost their lives, does not want to learn any lesson. They of late are spearheading the appeasement policy. Their minority census even in defence, minority commissions, minority quota in government spending, scrapping of POTA and reservations needing separate constitutional safeguards, are undermining national The integration and equally go against fair approach to the principles of secularism. Many political parties/government continue to pursue these policies without any hold.

Poverty and unemployment is not a problem of a particular religion. It is wide spread in every religion. Thus appeasing Muslims is unwarranted and dangerous.

Where there is law in the country, which says any religious discrimination or provocation of one community against another community is considered a serious criminal offence, there has to be equally a law in the country against appeasement of one community against another community, playing minority vote bank politics, and publication of minority election promises in manifestos, etc. Appeasement policy does a greater harm compared to aiding and abating terrorism, as it is instigating larger chunk of population, causing greater tension in the society. Constitutional experts, who are above party interests, should come forward and air their valuable opinion and pave way to clear the Indian polity form spreading this poison. The time has come to define the term 'minority' from all angles.

Courtesy: www.organiser.org, May 13, 2007