Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Avoidable controversy

The controversy over the Rajinder Sachar Committee's survey, seeking details of the number of Muslims in all government agencies, including the army, seems to be snowballing. If the survey is a step in the direction of reservation in the armed forces, it is unfair. Such vote-bank politics is dangerous in the long run.

Vijender Reddy,
Secunderabad

The Congress does not seem to have learnt from history. The only institution that is truly Indian is now under threat. In the military, there is no place for caste, creed, and religion.

Air Vice Marshal (retd.)
K.R. Karnik,
Udupi, Karnataka

Whatever the purpose of the head count, the armed forces are clearly well above politics and religion. There is no quota system for selection and promotion. Any deviation from this line of thought will severely undermine the foundations of the armed forces.

Capt. O.B. Nair,
Poonithura, Kerala

The demand by the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid that the Government come out with a White Paper on Muslim representation in the armed forces (Feb. 15) is dangerous. If the Imam wants more Muslims in the army, he should appeal to the youth in his community to meet the recruitment standards.

K. Hari Krishnan,
Tuticorin, T.N.

The Government has done the right thing by appointing a committee to assess the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community.

Shaik Ali Akbar,
Kurnool, A.P.

It is difficult to understand why there is so much media hype over a fact-finding exercise. It is well known that Muslims are a backward community. Only if relevant data is collected, can corrective steps be taken at the ground level.

K.S. Chaitanya,
New Delhi

The survey is not only in the interest of Muslims but the whole nation. India cannot aspire to become a major power when its largest minority lags behind.

Abdul Sami,
New Delhi

If a survey can publish the proper figures, it will help the Government to draw up policies to promote the interests of different sections. It will also expose the vastly hyped population figures often cited by the leaders of various communities.

I.S. Kanthimathinathan,
Tirunelveli, T.N.

Why should a survey on Muslims evoke suspicion? A democracy is like a living being. If one organ is affected, the entire body suffers. Similarly if one community remains substantially un-represented, democracy will not be a total success.

Shukur Ahmed,
Bangalore

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Stifling democratic discussion
A progressive direction
What's love got to do with any of this?
Vidharbha suicides: a scenario of post-mortems 24x7
Once liberal Denmark has lurched to the far Right
English threat to U.K.?
Surprising
Marriage registration
Avoidable controversy
Inspiring
Fooling fish

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu