Incurable Prejudice

Prejudice and discrimination have been bane of many a society. Unfortunately India has been a major claimant of these negative qualities. And perhaps it is the only society which legitimised it by providing religious sanction for it. Even the influence of Islamic egalitarianism failed to cure this disease fully. Waves of change which swept human world in the last two centuries also failed to improve the situation beyond a certain limit.
RSS and its political wing BJP, owing to political compulsions, accepted the presence and power of Dalits, the downtrodden and marginalised sections of Hindu society. But they still refuse to concede the right of equality and dignity to Muslims who have become the most marginalised section of India after independence. BJP’s policy of opposing tooth and nail any move to improve the lot of hapless Muslims lays bare the inherent hatred it harbours for Muslims. Further, it believes that anti-Muslim polarisation pays rich dividends in electoral politics. Its policy seems to be to partially accommodate the Dalits and divert the unlimited stock of inherent hatred towards the Muslims.
Heaven seems to be falling again after the publication of Rajinder Sachar Committee’s Report on the socio-economic and educational conditions of Muslims. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement in National Development Council meeting on December 9 that in the development plans the country’s minorities, particularly the Muslims, must have the first claim on national resources, so that benefits of progress reach them equitably has stirred the hornet’s nest. This has enraged the communal elements beyond democratically acceptable limits. Knives are out and threats are being hurled that a countrywide agitation would be launched to polarise opinions, strengthen the divisive agenda and thus ensure success in the coming elections, especially UP elections, which are round the corner and are expected any time in the beginning of 2007.
On December 11 they disrupted the proceedings in both Houses of Parliament on this issue and may continue their belligerent game for some more time or as long as the winter session lasts. The Sangh Parivar has read too much in Prime Minister’s statement owing to its inevitable prejudice against Muslims. As is evident from the explanations the government spokespersons have given that not only Muslims and minorities but marginalised sections also have been included in the category which deserves special attention. Fairness demands that the statement should be taken in the context of the other stated priorities, which include agriculture, health, education, rural and general infrastructure.
It is unfortunate that BJP and its associates are not ready to accept the fact that every section of society which has been marginalised deserves special ameliorative measures as its backwardness would prove to be a drag on the entire country’s progress. This also should be noted that Prime Minister has equally stressed that special plans for Scheduled Castes and Tribes are needed to be revitalised. The misreading of the well-intentioned speech of the Prime Minister is an attempt to divide the country on communal lines with a view to gaining electoral benefits.
Thus an entirely avoidable controversy has been kicked up by the BJP. It seems, after losing power, and continuous reverses on issue after issue, it has completely run out of any sensible programme. It must realise that through continuation of its chronic anti-Muslim stance, it is further damaging its already tainted image and at the same time doing utmost harm to the cohesion and comprehensive progress and welfare of the nation.
No one should be allowed to divide people on communal lines. The civil society and the Government must say a firm “No” to efforts to derail plans to uplift downtrodden and help the marginalised, be it Muslims or any other religious or ethnic community, however unacceptable it may be to BJP or any other narrow-minded entity.