subject: This way lies not only folly but disaster. Repercussions of Religion Based Reservations: [print this page] This way lies not only folly but disasterThis way lies not only folly but disaster. Repercussions of Religion Based Reservations:
The nod of Supreme Court to the religion-based reservations given by the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh and initiated in states has brought back the memories of another lifetime where leaders, whose names Congress uses till date to get mileage, but has completely forgotten and abandoned their believes and thoughtfulness in the building up of our great nation. Those leaders preached and practised those principles and ideas, with which this Congress(I) has no resemblance. Those leaders worked for the strong foundation of this great nation and this Congress is digging up the same with full force and fury.
On the issue of religion-based reservation, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru had stated in one of his letters written to all the Chief Ministers on 27June 1961, "I dislike any kind of reservation... I react strongly against anything which leads to inefficiency and second-rate standards. If we go in for reservations on communal and caste basis, we swamp the bright and able people and remain second-rate or third-rate. I am grieved to learn how far this business of reservation has gone based on communal considerations. This way lies not only folly but disaster".
On the same topic, Sardar Patel said, "Our mission is to satisfy every interest and safeguard the interests of all minorities to their satisfaction within the framework of the overall national interest. In the long run, it would be in the interest of all to forget that there is anything like a majority or a minority in this country and that in India there is only one community."
The initial deliberation of reserving seats for Muslims, Sikhs and Christians based on the population of the area was more intensely and thoroughly revised by the advisory committee, which included some distinguished names from all religions, came to the conclusion that it was not only in the best interests of the country but of minorities themselves that the reservations are abolished. Pt. Nehru was a special invitee to this committee.
And how true it stands even in today's scenario! The moment reservation is given to any particular caste, community on the basis of whatever reasons; they stand out and not in a very good way. And why is there a need for reservations at all? Let there be a fair game, let the MPs take care of their constituencies in the manner they are supposed to! The MP fund amount is not a meagre amount - where does all the money go? And then they talk about a salary hike. It should be considered after MPs give a detailed account of where the MP fund money was spent.
And, if at all, governments think that there is a need for reservations for the upliftment of the downtrodden then let the reservations be extended to those who are financially backward; irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Due to this, there are a lot of people who are actually, and will be, living the lives of dual religious identities, i.e. converting to a particular religion and practising another which is a regular feature in Tamil Nadu.
I can't leave this article without discussing the report of Ranganath Mishra Commission, which has suggested reservation for Muslims and other minorities, and has sought Scheduled Caste status for Dalits who adopted Islam and Christianity. Now, so far as my knowledge is concerned, and please write to me if I'm wrong, caste system is a part of Hindu society and the framers of our constitution had it very clear in their minds. If a lower caste Hindu converts to Islam or Christianity because he is made to understand and believe that these two are casteless religions, he loses all the privileges given to him/her by the constitution on the basis of the caste that he just relinquished to become a Muslim or a Christian. If that is true and is further fortified by an order of Home Affairs Ministry (Govt. of India/No 18/4/58SCT IV dated 23 July 1959) how can one even think about Scheduled Caste status for the Dalit converters from Hinduism to Islam or Christianity.
I'll conclude by saying that I don't know if we are working in the direction of Sardar's dream of making it a one community country, but I really want to ask the Congress what yardstick do they use to define "minority"? If I hold a stake in a company for 51% and my partner 49%, that certainly makes my partner a minority stake holder, doesn't it! Similarly 16% of the population of a country can be called "minority".
I don't know where this cherished party of Congress (Indira) is leading us but it certainly looks a very dark and gloomy path of regression than progression.
Send in your comments on: unitedqualindia@ymail.com
