Entrenched identities.
Harish Gupta & Rajiv Mantri ( IE,3/2 & 8/3) have have effectively debunked the hallow arguments in favour of 'entrenched identities' put forward by Ashutosh Varshney & Javed Anand (IE, 3/2 & 28/2) in their brilliant analysis. The policy of reservations and quotas have only strengthened identity politics at the cost development politics. The educational and professional backwardness of Muslims has more to do with 'socio-religious conservatism' rather than with 'the institutionalized discrimination' as pointed out by them. Muslims have allowed themselves to be used by the Congress for its votes with crumbs like subsidy for Haj and reservation. The Muslim clergy has a closed mind which cannot see the changing world. Their welfare is bound with the welfare of the country, and sooner they join the mainstream better it is for their welfare.
It is sad that there is no enlightened leadership among the Muslims to ask them to shed their 'victim complex' and to go far development politics. Hindus are more liberal than Communists and have no theological opposition to blasphemy, apostasy, homoseuality, and 'yet the country was always spiritual enough to never fall for the materialist philosophy of communism'. It has nothing to do with majoritarianism. Many years ago. Veteran journalist B.G.Verghese had said that Muslims in India are the second majority, not a minority.
Every child in India should be empowered with health and education. This will ensure prosperity to all people. This is what the founding-fathers of our constitution envisaged – a society of equals. Young India is looking for opportunities for growth and it wants good governance. It is not surprising that there is overwhelming support for Modi all over the country as indicated by many polls conducted by the media.
http://epaper.indianexpress.com/95308/Indian-Express-Mumbai/08-March-2013#page/11/2
March 9,2013.
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