Testing the limits of minority appeasement
From Minority rule in Andhra Pradesh by Dr T.H.Chowdary*, these extraordinary examples that probably test the limits of minority appeasement:
On the 18th of Oct a number of Christian organizations under the leadership of Archbishop Rev. Joji of Andhra Pradesh met the Chief Minister and thanked him for conceding their demand and creating a separate department for Christian welfare and a separate Christian Finance Corporation in the government of Andhra Pradesh…According to the census 2001, Christians constitute 1.44% of the people of Andhra Pradesh .
Some actions of the government of the Andhra Pradesh for minorities are the following:
Waiver of Rs. 500 cr of debt owed by minorities to the government Minority Finance Corporation (not sure if the same relief was extended across the board to all the farmers – Shantanu)
…Spending government money for performing the marriage of Muslim & Christian couples at the rate of 15000 per couple. The marriages themselves will be under the auspices of the government ‘s minority welfare departments [ The first such group marriages was conducted in the State on 22/10/2008. The Chief Minister told this crowd that congress has unbound love and care and regard for Moslems and in proof of it he mentioned his giving 4% reservation for Moslems in spit of obstructions (from the High Court and Supreme Court)]
Government of Andhra Pradesh pays 100% of the tuition fees for Muslims in professional colleges for engineering, medicine, MBA, MCA, B.Ed, dental etc. the Colleges had been ordered not to charge Muslims but get reimbursement from the government.
…5% reservation for Muslims in the non-minority colleges (Although the matter is being litigated in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and in the Supreme Court, by various devices for two consecutive years this reservation has been implemented).
…The grants to the AP Urdu Academy are being continuously increased since the last 4 years and for the current year it is about Rs. 14.0 cr. ! The Sanskrit Academy gets only a fraction of what is given to the Urdu Academy, just Rs. 5 lakhs…
I thought *secular* governments did not mix religion and politics…but there is increasing evidence that in present day India, “secularism” has merely been reduced to a term in the constitution – devoid of any meaning and substance. Perhaps it is time to reconsider it? Alongside, one also needs a vigorous debate around the whole idea of majority vs. minority…I find it deeply divisive and archaic…Should we not all try and be “Bharatiyas”/”Indians” first?
P.S. If you thought Dr T.H.Chowdary is some rabid, “Hindu-tva” fanatic, think again…He was the founding Chairman and MD of VSNL, ex-Chairman of APEDC, member of PM’s National Task Force for Information Technology (NTFIT) and has been an IT Advisor to Govt of AP between ’97 – ’04.Â
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The ridiculous extremes of pseudo-secularismÂ
In the current environment, anyone who is not a card carrying muslim league member or an evangelist is automatically a “hindu bigot”.
We should have known better before electing the KKKangress into power under madame.
Minority appeasement has no limits if the majority is sleeping. Luckily, the situation is changing, as parties like the BJP are gaining more power, and articles like this are coming out more & more often.
I belong to Andhra Pradesh and this Congress government is making hell by giving all exemptions to all minorities. this government is doing all these to get the votes from minorities. What about the people who has lesser income but not belong to any minorities?
Dear Shantanu
You have rightly pointed out the absurdity to which the Congress party has deteriorated.
This is very serious stuff. Mixing religion and politics in the name of secularism is not secularism but poison. Congress is not a secular party but an opportunist, corrupt party. It inflames resentment and gives ammunition to other rabid communal forces such as BJP, creating a soup of distortion on the Indian landscape where the very purpose of getting independence, namely freedom of the people, is lost.
Equal freedom and equal opportunity DEMAND that everyone in India be treated equally by its governments irrespective of their religious beliefs. It is high time for a liberal movement in India, based on the principles of liberty. Everyone can have their religious beliefs but no special favours to any segment of the population.
The Freedom Team is going to work towards such a movement, as soon as the relevant number of leaders has assembled. The mess created by our politicians is only increasing, not decreasing. We cannot watch while India is made into a seething mess of resentments.
Leaders who want genuine secularism (which means people can hold their beliefs but not expect favours for that, nor disturb the peace of others on grounds of religion) should join the Freedom Team and kickstart this movement for freedom and good policy. (http://freedomteam.in).
Regards
Sanjeev
Once Hindus used to live from the Volga to Indonesia including Arab land ( See Vedic Arabia by Qureshi Khan, can be googled )In 1947 India got divided as Muslims wanted their own land. So one part went to Muslims, the other part to Nehru dynasty, now owned by a Catholic family. Dalits have become a multi-billion dollar business. Look how gypsies are treated in Europe and “aboriginal” in Australia. Christian missionaries are destroying our heritage helped by so called American Hindu scolars. (see Invading the sacred, published by Rupa publication). As a Hindu I want by heritage back, I want all the mosques and churches built on Hindu temples back .I want all missionaries out of India. There is no missionaries in Saudi Arabia. I will support BJP.