The response on the controversy surrounding Salman Khurshid's statement on Muslim reservation is enormous with every political party vying for his head. But the question remains intact: Has Mr. Khurshid done any wrong in quoting from the manifesto of the Congress party? Apparently the disapproval is as he made statements for the development of Muslims, upliftment of socio-economic status of the community. Leave aside the opposition some from his own political outfit, his colleagues have shown strong reservations on his comments. Even though Muslims hardly have anything to achieve from the entire controversy and doubt even Khurshid’s concerns as crocodile tears, but then too he has shown some courage and sincerity to speak truth even if it was meant for political mileage over his opponents.
This is Congress culture
It is so gloomy to see Mr. Salman Khurshid literally isolated and secluded in his own party defending his legitimate statement but regrettably this has been the Congress culture all along. One might recall how this party shunned A.R. Antulay for his similar pro-Muslim remarks on the floor of the house during UPA –I regime, resulting which he was dumped and denied a parliamentary elections ticket later in 2009 thus bringing an end to his political career as well. This “run with the hare and hunt with the hounds”, policy has engendered dearly to the Congress’s credibility.
In that way BJP is much more anchored and deeply rooted as they tend to stand beside their leaders in whatever the outcome or circumstances be. The entire world cried foul with 2002 Gujarat Riots with Narendra Modi at the centre of all negative attention or L.K. Advani faced similar flakes during Babri Masjid demolition and aftermath, but the party threw its weight behind on both such incidents. The entire Hindutva machinery was put on damage control to see trouble through.
"Only a Hindu can be a Muslim leader"
While Khurshid was never a Muslim, in the way identity politics tags leaders by community or caste. The Anglophile's labored Hindi-Urdu made him incompatible with the suitable 'minority' image, and it appeared in tune with intra-party dynamics. The traditional belief in Congress has held that "only a Hindu can be a Muslim leader". Biggies like H N Bahuguna and Arjun Singh carefully cultivated the "secular" image. AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh has modeled himself on his guru Dau saab, his controversial views on reservation, Batla House and even his "Osamaji" seen in that light. Congressmen believe that a Muslim's backing of minority issues in a country with the ghost of the Partition would draw charges of "communalism", which in itself is absurd. In a country like ours every community, caste, section have their own indigenous leadership for advocacy of their needs and requirements i.e.; Paswan and Mayawati for Dalits, Laloo and Mulayam for Yadavs, Advani and team for upper caste Hindus but none to speak exclusively for rights and dignity of Muslims. Why? Why so much fusses when someone talks about Muslims in India? Muslims are no aliens but part of this country and seeking one’s justifiable Right guaranteed is no appeasement by any means.
Muslim quota a legitimate demand
Muslims are 13.4 per cent of India’s population and are considered to be a marginalized community because in comparison to other communities, they have over the years been deprived of the benefits of socio-economic development. Recognizing that Muslims in India were lagging behind in terms of various development indicators, the government set up a high-level committee in 2005. Chaired by Justice Rajindar Sachar, the committee examined the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community in India. The report discusses in detail the marginalization of this community. It suggests that on a range of social, economic and educational indicators the situation of the Muslim community is comparable to that of other marginalized communities like Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Economic and social marginalization experienced by Muslims has other dimensions as well. Like other minorities, Muslim customs and practices are sometimes quite distinct from what is seen as the mainstream.
The Indian Dalit Muslims (considering its overall condition, the entire community must be considered as Dalit/OBC, but that’s a different issue all together) are a part of society, which is completely absent from the Constitution, parliamentary democracy and the debates of mainstream politics. The census report usually records the number count of the different castes included as Dalit and a brief outline on their present status. But in these reports, we find not even a trace of the population of Dalit Muslims. The deeply disturbing fact however is that the public sphere of our society doesn’t even deem it necessary to hold discussions on this group. It is very surprising that neither the media nor the academia or even street discussions have ever included this group within the ambit of their discussion.
As per the 2001 census and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) of 2005 Muslims in India have abysmally low say in governance despite having literacy percentage of 59 against Hindus' 65. They are the most deprived in terms of socio-economic parameters including their share of jobs.
Follow the table for details:
3% of IAS officers,
4% of IPS officers
1.8 % of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers are from the community
2.2 % of all bank employees, including of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), are Muslims.
Drawing a comparison with Hindus, it says that while 63.6 % of Muslims live in non-permanent houses, 55.2 % Hindus live in similar conditions
30% of Muslims have access to electricity while 43.2 % of Hindus have access to electricity.
(Similarly) 19.4 % of Muslims have access to piped water against 25.3 % Hindus.
Jains were the most literate at 94 %, followed by Christians at 80 %, Buddhists at 73 %, Sikhs at 70% and Hindus at 65 %.
25% of Muslim children in the 6-14 age group have either never been to school or have dropped out. This percentage is much higher than of other community.
But irrespective of all above there are political parties who still see “Muslim appeasements” in all corrective initiatives and visions to rectify the social, economic and educational imbalance of all these years. And in such a case the community gracefully desires to change position with the “so called” underprivileged and deprived majority community with the privileges and advantages Muslims enjoys!
But whatever the outcome the suave minister's unexpected belligerence over last fortnight on 'Muslim issues' woke party men and observers to a new Khurshid, one eager to be seen as community leader. An absolute about-turn for the man, who spent years in Congress resisting use of identity as a bargaining chip and after March 6, Salman Khurshid may find it tough to live down the image of a 'Muslim' leader. However let’s hope his enlightened concerns are real this time.
http://twocircles.net/2012feb15/muslim_quota_why_congress_left_khurshid_isolated.html#comment-212938
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