Author: Editorial
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: December 2, 2011
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/item/50602-say-no-to-muslim-quota.html
Congress putting nation on path to disaster
With State Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh
around the corner, and its campaign clearly floundering, the Congress has
embarked upon a dangerous path that can only lead to social conflict. The
party's cynical move to set aside a quota for 'backward Muslims' within the
27 per cent reservation in Government jobs and educational institutions meant
for the 'Other Backward Classes', is frighteningly myopic and must be thwarted.
This is more than an electoral gambit and cannot be wished away as a tactical
manoeuvre of insignificant consequence. It is calculated mischief with an
eye to the Muslim vote of Uttar Pradesh. The same calculation is reflected
in Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's demand that Muslims be given their
own quota in jobs and colleges. Both the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party
could argue that they are merely paying heed to a demand voiced by Muslims,
but that is far from the truth. For what is being sought to be done is to
brazenly pander to a communal demand that flies in the face of the Constitution,
its provisions and, indeed, its secular character in the hope that this will
result in securing the support of Muslim voters who form a significant block
in Uttar Pradesh and could swing results in several constituencies. In a closely
contested election where four parties are locked in battle such consolidation
could tilt the balance towards the Congress if it is allowed to proceed with
its mischief. Worse, if the Congress is allowed to have its way with demarcating
a separate communal quota, it will prove to be the proverbial thin end of
the wedge: From here to an aggressive revival of Muslim separatism is only
a hop, skip and jump away. The demands that will follow will range from legitimising
shari'ah courts to forcing women to stay at home. These demands have already
been voiced from various fora and by institutions that claim to represent
India's Muslims, including Darul Uloom Deoband; conceding the demand for a
'Muslim quota' will add traction to them and fetch a hostile blowback.
No purpose is served by risking communal discord
and this message needs to be driven home. The spurious recommendations of
the Sachar Committee which has meticulously collated manufactured grievance
to justify its claim that Muslims get a raw deal in this country and active
state intervention is required for their social and economic development need
not be cited as reasons for creating fresh social strife. The Congress-led
UPA regime has already injected communalism into the planning process by setting
apart funds for 'special development' of minority-dominated districts although
statistically poverty among Hindus is far more widespread than among Muslims.
The Prime Minister's misplaced assertion that minority communities have the
first claim to development funds has further fuelled apprehensions. If the
Government were to now push through a communal quota, those apprehensions
will be further strengthened. Muslims, like their fellow citizens of any other
community, aspire for good governance and opportunity, not favours from a
paternalistic state.