Re: India's politics of minority appeasement
That is correct - 5.8% vs 5.2%. However, it is illegal for Hindus but not for Muslims and my question is more on the special treatment.
Re: India’s politics of minority appeasement
It is better to have a rash rather than be the creature that shows your likeness in your profile.
When you dont have anything constructive to add, please move on. Dont be a pain in you know where. BTW I thought personal attacks were a strict no-no in the forum. Coming from you, I am not surprised.
Re: India's politics of minority appeasement
[quote]
Originally quoted by Babuji
Pls answer my basic question on why he proposed special rights for Muslims ?
[/quote]
As mentioned in the post, Nehru disagreed with the concept of two nation theory. Jinnah had gone on record to state that muslims could never follow their religion in a hindu dominated India. This had created a fear psychosis among the Indian muslims. While many muslims from the north could migrate to Pakistan, there were a large number of muslims who could not and chose not to migrate to Pakistan. They needed the reassurance that they could practise the religion in peace.
Nehru being the towering statesman he was, did not need to play the messy vote-politics game in his lifetime. He knew what needed to be done to keep the opposition in check. I agree he was a shrewd politician, but then you would have to give credit due to him where it is due. If he was so interested in keeping his vote bank intact,he would not advertised his views on atheism so loud and clear. All things said and done, there is also a hindu vote bank which is much bigger and more powerful than the muslim vote bank
Re: India's politics of minority appeasement
Nehru was an architect of modern India. When British left us penniless and poor, he chalked out a powerful social, educational and development programs and made the country Industrial giant. Today over ten million indians are living abroad and many Indians have achieved very high professional status. All this are the indirect benefits of the great leadership of Nehru.
If the country would have been under wrong hands (Hindu fanatics) then this would have created a total chaos and India would have disintegrated. Nehru modernised the country and established education system which created a pool of professionals. Today one third of professors in American universities are of Indian origin.
Imagine, Indian steel mills were set up with russian collaboration and now Indians are working as expert in russian steel mills.
Again imagine the scenario if Bal Thackrey or Modi or Pravin Tagodia or Singhal leading the country versus Nehru leadership. What would have happened to India? India would have become a theological state like any other Islamic country and would have remained technologically and socially a backward nation. BABUJI, if you are a professional then you owe it to NEHRU. Rather I would say every Indian should be proud of Nehru who was not only a great leader but also a great intellectual. Discovery Of India written by Nehru is one of the masterpiece of Indian History.
Re: India’s politics of minority appeasement
Nehru did contribute a lot to making India what it is today. 
However, when we talk about the pluses, we should not forget the minuses. Nehru had great qualities as a leader, however he was not without fault(s). Special treatment to minorities is one of them. And thats one point that you have missed adressing in your post 
And I am not suggesting Thakeray/Togadia/Modi as alternatives. There were capable “secular” leaders in the pre-independence era too.
Re: India's politics of minority appeasement
Nehru being the towering statesman he was, did not need to play the messy vote-politics game in his lifetime. He knew what needed to be done to keep the opposition in check. I agree he was a shrewd politician, but then you would have to give credit due to him where it is due. If he was so interested in keeping his vote bank intact,he would not advertised his views on atheism so loud and clear. All things said and done, there is also a hindu vote bank which is much bigger and more powerful than the muslim vote bank
And thats what I call appeasement. What about the feelings of the majority who on one hand saw part of their country split because Muslims want a separate state, and then have to live in a country where Muslims have special rights ? And these special rights dont relate to protection of mosques (else Babri masjid would not have happened). Rather they relate more to lifestyle - following Shariat code instead of the laws that the rest of the country follows. No other non-muslim state in the world allows them such rights.
The Muslims who were insecure in India, moved to Pak. That choice was always available. I am assuming the ones who stayed behind stayed because they wanted to & not because of the special rights given to them.
Re: India's politics of minority appeasement
^^
Your point about those muslims who were insecure in India migrating to Pak does not actually cover the whole gambit of factors that were prevalent at that point in time. It would have been very difficult for the muslims from south india to migrate. There would have been options but then they would have been very limited.
Re: India's politics of minority appeasement
^ To extend that logic further, are you saying that there were Muslims in South India who were insecure but still did not migrate due to various reasons ?
Re: India's politics of minority appeasement
^^
There were and that is besides the point. If muslims are allowed to follow their religions in their own way, there is no question of minority appeasement. If muslims had a different set of rules regarding criminal activities then it would have been appeasement.
Re: India's politics of minority appeasement
^ India is not a theocratic state, so everyone should have similar civil codes that they should follow. Do countries like US & UK allow Muslims to be governed by Shariat ? Then why should India which was modeled on these two democracies be different ?
Re: India’s politics of minority appeasement
what happen to MP and Bihar(NDA) orissa (NDA) Karnataka (NDA):hmmm:
BJP never win in south earlier and will never win in future
in south BJP has its presence only in places where there is sizable amount of muslim population like Hyderbad/secunderabad,Hubli/dharwad and coimbatore
and muslims in UP,bihar and WB makes 45% of total india muslims
AP and Tamilnadu has 90% hindu population but BJP never win there:)
see here 2001 india census data based on religion
http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/index.html