HVK Archives: Indian secularism linked to Kashmir
Indian secularism linked to Kashmir - Statesman
Statesman News Service
()
April 19, 1998
Title: Indian secularism linked to Kashmir
Author: Statesman News Service
Publication: Statesman
Date: April 19, 1998
Secularism in India is connected to Kashmir and if it goes to
Pakistan, the end of secularism in this country would be
imminent, said Dr Rafiq Zakaria, while delivering a lecture on
"Challenge before the Indian Muslims in the next millennium".
The lecture was part of a series organised by Foundation for
Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the
"Creeds for the Next Millennium". Dr Zakaria said even a
Pakistani newspaper has mentioned that they required only Kashmir
and did not care for Indian Muslims. He quoted the newspaper
stating that Indian Muslims should learn to stand on their own
feet.
He was of the view that Indian Muslims will shed their last drop
of blood to see that Kashmir does not go to Pakistan.
"The need of hour is faith of majority Hindus for their Muslim
brothers," he stated.
He blamed Jinnah for the Partition of India. "I frame him the
'villain' of Indian freedom struggle," he said and claimed that
future generations of Muslims will curse him for this.
Dr Zakaria contended that Pakistani Muslims hate their country
more than Hindus. "They feel cheated by creation of Pakistan," he
stated. In his view, Britishers sowed the seeds of hatred among
Hindus and Muslims, in their bid to rule me country. He cautioned
Indian Muslims not to fall prey to the community leaders who have
been a force in last 50 years in isolating from the majority. He
blamed these leaders for keeping the Muslims away from the Hindus
to meet their political ends. "Indian Muslims should learn from
the Pakistan's example where various factions are fighting with
each other," he maintained.
He urged them to grow educationally and economically which they
have failed to do in past 50 years. he time is ripe to remember
call of Sir Syed Ahmed (founder of Aligarh Muslim University) for
providing modern education to Muslims, he stated.
The figures Of Muslims in service Provides a glimpse of their
state. Only three per cent of government employees are Muslims
while in private sector their number is 4.8. Muslims cannot
negotiate their future on religious lines, this they should
realise early. He urged the government to have reservation for
Muslims as it is for the backward classes to ameliorate their
grievances. On the other hand, he asked Hindus to reimpose faith
on Muslims and not to treat them as agents of Pakistan. "Only if
both communities work in tandem the nation could develop," he
stated.
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