PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VIEWS OF THE COLUMNISTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE VIEWS OF THE EDITORS OF THIS MAGAZINE
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEGINNINGS OF A MODI-FIED WORLD VIEW: M YUSUF KHAN (previously published in The Pioneer)

The recent poll results did not exactly gladden the hearts of the minority community in Gujarat. Perhaps they would have been happy to see Mr Narendra Modi and his party defeated. However, in a democracy, the numbers count and clearly these favoured Mr Modi. Should his victory be a cause of worry to the Muslims in Gujarat and elsewhere in the country, as is being suggested? How well-founded are these misgivings? Some doubts and concern have also been raised with regard to the future trend and the ploys that might be witnessed in the coming Assembly elections. These questions and doubts need to be examined dispassionately.

The minorities in India enjoy the same rights as the rest of their countrymen. If there is an infringement, strong voices are raised and remarkably so by the members of the majority community. As long as this happens India's credentials as a democratic and secular country is safe. However, this is not to say that our society is discrimination free. But then, is there a place in the world where grievances in some form or the other do not exist? Acknowledging these does not mean condoning these. We have to strive towards better society which has no place for violence.

Coming back to the Gujarat election, it is no secret that emotions rather than cold logic held sway. But then, it is not just Gujarat, it is throughout the country that caste and creed have become major factors to mobilise votes. Nonetheless, instead of looking at the darker side of what has happened in Gujarat, one should also look at the positive outcome which has been ignored. Most Assembly elections are marred by violence, booth capturing, misuse of state machinery and intimidations and low turn out and so on. None of these were witnessed in Gujarat. Is it not worth an acknowledgement? Agreed, there were cases of stray violence but not at a scale to scare away the voters. Can we say the same thing about the elections held in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and J&K and some other states?

It is truly remarkable that the minority community took part in the elections so enthusiastically and unhindered. This is a good sign for democracy. The minority community demonstrated that it is free to exercise its choice in the electoral process. The Gujarati Muslims' decision not to boycott the elections showed their maturity. As stated earlier, democracy is about "quantity" and not necessarily about "quality". Hence, with all due respect, if Bihar is happy with Ms Rabri Devi, Tamil Nadu with Ms J Jayalalitha and Rajasthan with Mr Ashok Gehlot, who are we to question their choices?

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