Is this the thin end of the wedge?

Thanks to Krishen-ji for alerting me to this news-item…Christian pick on Congress poll list from which, a brief excerpt (emphasis mine):

For the first time, a major Christian body has asked a political party to give poll nominations to candidates from the community, and the party has obliged.

The All India Christian Council, a conglomerate of all Christian denominations, wrote to Sonia Gandhi a few weeks ago requesting tickets for Christians in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

The Congress has accepted two of the council’s nine nominees, both political lightweights. Janet D’Souza has been fielded from Ghatkopar — where she is up against a formidable opponent, the late Pramod Mahajan’s daughter Poonam — and an advocate, Gonsalves, from Vasai. Maharashtra has 18 lakh Christians, of whom 8 lakh live in Mumbai.

Ironically, Abraham Mathai, general secretary of the council, said the council wrote the letter because it was “aware of the importance of integrating with the mainstream”.

The news-report helpfully notes that:

The Congress does have powerful leaders from the community, such as defence minister A.K. Antony, though he has desisted from mixing his religion and politics.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at this…

Does this feel like the thin end of the wedge that might eventually end up in demands for reserved seats on the basis of religion – and worse, separate electorates*?

Related Posts:

After Mizoram, Kerala?

A dangerous portent

* As an aside it was exactly a 100 years ago that the concept of separate electorates was introduced in India through the Morley-Minto “Reforms Act” of 1909.

B Shantanu

Political Activist, Blogger, Advisor to start-ups, Seed investor. One time VC and ex-Diplomat. Failed mushroom farmer; ex Radio Jockey. Currently involved in Reclaiming India - One Step at a Time.

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8 Responses

  1. K. Harapriya says:

    And why is this a surprise? Here is another expected move.

    http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cbi-to-withdraw-all-cases-against-quattrocchi/102378-3.html

  2. manju says:

    Not really a surprise- but scary, because it is being done quite openly now.

  3. Rohit says:

    What are views of Hon. Dr. Sanjeev Sabhlok?

  4. VoP says:

    See this evolution that has happened ever since Rome planted it’s seed

    All India Congress Committee + All India Christian Council => All India Christian Congress

    It’s all AICC! I heard that majority of Chief Ministers under Congress banner are either overtly or covertly Christian. In fact conversion to Christianity is the first step towards rising in the ranks of Congress. No wonder intellectuals have said that Christianity and Islam are just political ideologies in the garb of a religion bent on usurping power,steal resources, destroying civilizations in the long run!

  5. Dirt Digger says:

    VoP,
    Well said,
    “..Christianity and Islam are just political ideologies in the garb of a religion bent on usurping power,steal resources, destroying civilizations in the long run!”
    scary but true.

  6. Sanjay says:

    That India isn’t a secular country has again been demonstrated. This move was inevitable. We didn’t complain when votes were given on the basis of caste, when tickets were given to other communities (incl Muslims).

  7. Rohit says:

    This is Gandhism, Jinnahism, Nehruism “GANERUZZIN” at it’s best with new found religion called secularism, given by British Christians. The skeletons will rise from ashes to feast on flesh and blood of Sanatan Dharmis for they didn’t get peace.

  8. KSV SUBRAMANIAN says:

    *** COMMENT MOVED HERE ***