Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Much ado

Too much is being read into the innocuous survey of Muslims in the Army by the Rajinder Sachar Committee. And too soon too! Any step to bring the composition of the armed forces nearer to the actual demography would only lead to their more composite nature that is so integral to India.

M.A. Siraj,
Bangalore

* * *

A mere recording of statistics is unduly being magnified. With the time-tested systems and procedures in place, no government will be able to change the existing composition of the defence force, let alone give importance to it. The regiments are so tradition-bound that they motivate their soldiers by invoking izzat (honour), not religion.

Lt. Col. (retd.) R.V.S. Mani,
Madurai, T.N.

* * *

There is no question of any social transformation as far as defence is concerned because there is no reservation there. In view of the growing religious fundamentalism world over and having regard to the political history of our country, taking statistics of Muslims in defence is fraught with dangerous consequences.

It will give rise to Muslim consciousness and lead to ideas like a Muslim regiment, which should be avoided. It is difficult to accept the Government stand that it is secular. One is reminded of Arundhati Roy's words that the BJP is communal by the day whereas the Congress is communal by the night.

N.G.R. Prasad,
Chennai

* * *

The Centre's move to ascertain the numbers is a serious assault on the defence ethos. The move must have surely created disquiet among the uniformed forces. In this context the petition of Lt. Gen. (retd.) R.S. Kadyan is welcome. Unless the enumeration exercise is stopped immediately, the last citadel of secularism in this county will crumble.

Rear Admiral (retd.)

P.P. Sivamani,
Chennai

* * *

That Muslims are backward cannot be denied. But their backwardness is not historical like that of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Muslims have remained backward because their community is not open to reforms. Whatever the reason for the survey, it is dangerous and will widen the Hindu-Muslim divide.

R. Alamelu,
Coimbatore

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