Marshall Mendonza refered us to the following article: http://www.countercurrents.org/matheikal230209.htm which contends that there is no Muslim appeasement in India. I would like to mention following actions taken by the secularists:
* While the Hindu Code Bill was rightly introduced, there was no move to change the archaic laws, in case of the other communities. * The facilities given to the education institutes of the religious minorities have been grossly misused. * While a state funded education institute belonging to a religious minorities can teach its own holy books, teaching of the Hindu scriptures is not permitted. * The laws permit, rightly, that the use of funds with a temple are monitored by the government, and suitable action is taken where the affairs are not run in the best interest of the society. No such provision exists for places of worship of the religious minorities. * Article 370 of the Constitution, although conceived as a temporary measure, is still on the statute. Although some of the sections have been deleted, the most important (which says that any act passed by the Parliament is applicable in Jammu & Kashmir only after the state assembly accepts it, giving the latter an effective veto over the Parliament) part still remains. * The law relating to property in J&K (not a part of Article 370) has made the people of the state feel that they are different from the other people of India. * The changes in the child adoption bills were dropped because of the resistance of the Muslim clergy. * The date of introduction of the Aligarh Muslim University Bill was changed, since it fell on a Friday, and the Muslim MPs thought it more important to go for their namaz rather than fulfill their duties in the parliament. * A private members bill to regulate conversion was opposed by the Christian and the Muslim clergy, and the government subsequently thought it fit not to pursue with it. * The Supreme Court Judgement on the Shah Bano case was overturned, at the insistence of the religious leaders of the Muslims. (The maintenance allowance asked to be paid was only Rs 250 per month.) * A national holiday on the Prophet Mohammed's birthday was announced at the time of the Independence Day speech of the Prime Minister. * No follow up action has been taken on the recommendation of an independent committee to look into the abuse of powers of the Syedna over the Bhori community. * The list of the candidates of a political party had to be approved by the Shahi Imam, to ensure that the party has his support. * India was the first country to ban Satanic Verses, even before any of the Islamic countries. * The Minorities Commission (recently given statutory provision) enables a member of a religious minority to get justice at a different plane than a Hindu against whom the sane injustice has been done. It is for this reason that the Minorities Commission should be replaced with a Human Rights Commission. * The General Affairs Committee of the Lok Sabha under the chairmanship of the Speaker took a unanimous decision to start each session with the national song "Vande Matram". But the day before the start of the session, sore Muslim MPs objected because they claimed the song is idolatry'. The 'secular' political parties supported them. * The then communist government in Kerala carved out a new district on the basis of Muslim majority. Similarly, the DMK government in Tamil Madu changed the name of Dindigul District to Kaide Millat District. * Urdu is made the second language of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh by the state Congress governments. Clearly these actions do establish that there is appeasement. I agree that the lot of the Muslims in India is not a happy one. The above actions were done to make the Muslim communal leaders happy, so that these leaders would try and force the community to vote according their instructions. Given that the secular media makes a big issue of importance of Muslim vote, clearly the average Muslim is influenced by these leaders. Best regards, Dr. U. G. Barad
