When there’ll be no Indian left behind

Should there be separate earmarking of 15 per cent of the targets and outlays for minorities, as is envisaged in the Eleventh Five Year Plan? Modi, backed by other BJP chief ministers, has slammed the move as “divisive” and not “in the interest of maintaining the social fabric of the nation”. No, said Dr Singh. “Inclusiveness does mean better targeting and it is not at the cost of other groups. You will all agree that if we hope to have a prosperous, equitable, just India, we must cover all groups and ensure that no one is left behind... (Our)

focus is on the most marginalised sections of society.”

The prime minister’s defence contains a dangerous conceptual flaw, which is sought to be covered over by pious intentions that are unassailable. Shouldn’t growth be inclusive? Shouldn’t we ensure that no group is left behind? The answer has to be a full-throated “Yes”. However, the problem arises when we dig deeper, as we must, to get to the bottom of the UPA government’s “communal budgeting” plan. The digging will make us realise what a quagmire India could get into, in the years to come, unless we free ourselves from this majority-minority trap. Are all religions minorities, and do all people belonging to each minority, qualify as “the most marginalised sections of society” needing separate plan allocations? Certainly not.

Clubbing undifferentiated “minorities” together with the Scheduled Castes and Tribes also begs other questions. Is there any justification in believing that all Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis and other minorities (West Bengal has recently declared Jains a minority) have been the victims of discrimination (as Scheduled Castes have been, historically) or marginalisation (as Scheduled Tribes are, even today)? Congress and Communist leaders seem to believe so. Such belief is an endorsement of the extremist Muslim organisations’ consistent propaganda that Muslims can expect no justice in a Hindu-majority India. For the Congress, such belief is also tantamount to its own self-indictment since the party has ruled India for the longest period since Independence.

... contd.