In Part 1, we discussed the reasons for the dismal situation of Indian Politics and defined the “Strategy of Discrimination”. Let’s look at some contemporary events that further strengthen the argument that the strategy of discrimination is an implicitly and blindly accepted norm in Indian Politics.
In India there are only 2 truly national political the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). The INC (Caste) and the BJP (Religion) are few that have mastered the Strategy of Discrimination add to regional parties that focus on castes and you will soon realise that none of these parties actually campaign on issues of national importance most of the campaign is focused on a particular caste or religion.
Let’s start with the master’s of this strategy in Indian Politics, the Indian National Congress (INC). Of the six decades of independent India approximately 5 have had an INC government. This government (with its allies) has blatantly supported reservations. Reservations are discrimination based on caste. So weak is their creativity and problem solving ability that in spite of the fact that there is not reported evidence (available in public domain), talking about the real ground level socio-economic benefits of reservation, the INC whenever possible has increased reservations, they suffer from the Monkey Syndrome. The only accepted development is the emergence of a Creamy layer and as recent debates suggest it is very small group. So 6 decades of reservation plus all the violence from people opposing it, have brought a small benefit and still they can’t think otherwise. The recent struggle of Gujjars where they wanted to be reclassified from Other Backward Classes(OBC) to Scheduled Tribes(ST) represents a fundamental flaw within the strategy where people from one reserved caste envy people from other reserved caste, the violence in Rajasthan was a representation of the negatives this strategy can product.
The BJP’s claim to fame was the Ram Mandir which pitched Hindus (80% Indians) against Muslims (13% Indians). The history of the temple is disputed and touching a controversial issue which dates back to a few centuries brought BJP to the centre and they also were able to establish a Central Government. This Strategy of Discrimination also led to rioting in India. Rioting is an example of the negative effects of the Strategy of Discrimination.
The most recent case of the strategy of discrimination comes from Maharashtra. Traditionally, Maharashtra has given India some of the greatest leaders and national icons e.g. Chatrapati Shivaji, Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak, these people were true inspiration to any Indian. Unfortunately, things have changed drastically for this state, citizen in Maharashtra today have a narrow minded political in Maharashtra Navnirman Sena(MNS). Maharashtra has always been a very cosmopolitan state with Mumbai representing the commercial capital of India. Members of MNS, an offshoot of Shiv Sena, seem to have missed out on some national and global developments like liberalisation, free market, globalisations et al.
So sticking to the strategy of discrimination this time there is a demand for reservations for Marathi Speaking people. I am not sure if people born in Maharashtra who speak other languages are eligible to benefit by this demand. Anyways, there has been some opposition to this but no serious action can be expected on this request. Why? Isn’t a non-Marathi speaking, law abiding, taxpaying citizen living in Maharashtra an Indians? And isn’t Maharashtra a part of India? Well I am not sure if it really matters. Discrimination is a part of Indian politics no one is going to stop MNS or any other person or party on such demands. Upgrading the skill set by improving educational institution or creating jobs by improving infrastructure is a time consuming and difficult task. Dividing people is easy, it has been happening from generations and no one has questioned it. It just requires a criterion and a microphone and a bunch of people who can bully those few who oppose.
Politicians, especially those elected are supposed to represent the people are given the responsibility to take decisions that are good for the country both in the short term and in the long term. Dividing people on caste and religion is injurious both in the short term and in the long term. A simple look at the history of India will make that clear. The wonder of Indian Politics is that even when there is no evidence of benefit there is no alternative suggested and neither is there a review of reasons for little or no benefits on the contrary there is a push for more reservations. The Common Civil Code has been discussed for a few hours and the concept of eradicating the cast system and replacing it by an Economic Condition based criteria, where people are monitored and helped to move out of a Low/No Income Benefit Group might probably be considered a serious offence in Indian Politics.
In India there are only 2 truly national political the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). The INC (Caste) and the BJP (Religion) are few that have mastered the Strategy of Discrimination add to regional parties that focus on castes and you will soon realise that none of these parties actually campaign on issues of national importance most of the campaign is focused on a particular caste or religion.
Let’s start with the master’s of this strategy in Indian Politics, the Indian National Congress (INC). Of the six decades of independent India approximately 5 have had an INC government. This government (with its allies) has blatantly supported reservations. Reservations are discrimination based on caste. So weak is their creativity and problem solving ability that in spite of the fact that there is not reported evidence (available in public domain), talking about the real ground level socio-economic benefits of reservation, the INC whenever possible has increased reservations, they suffer from the Monkey Syndrome. The only accepted development is the emergence of a Creamy layer and as recent debates suggest it is very small group. So 6 decades of reservation plus all the violence from people opposing it, have brought a small benefit and still they can’t think otherwise. The recent struggle of Gujjars where they wanted to be reclassified from Other Backward Classes(OBC) to Scheduled Tribes(ST) represents a fundamental flaw within the strategy where people from one reserved caste envy people from other reserved caste, the violence in Rajasthan was a representation of the negatives this strategy can product.
The BJP’s claim to fame was the Ram Mandir which pitched Hindus (80% Indians) against Muslims (13% Indians). The history of the temple is disputed and touching a controversial issue which dates back to a few centuries brought BJP to the centre and they also were able to establish a Central Government. This Strategy of Discrimination also led to rioting in India. Rioting is an example of the negative effects of the Strategy of Discrimination.
The most recent case of the strategy of discrimination comes from Maharashtra. Traditionally, Maharashtra has given India some of the greatest leaders and national icons e.g. Chatrapati Shivaji, Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak, these people were true inspiration to any Indian. Unfortunately, things have changed drastically for this state, citizen in Maharashtra today have a narrow minded political in Maharashtra Navnirman Sena(MNS). Maharashtra has always been a very cosmopolitan state with Mumbai representing the commercial capital of India. Members of MNS, an offshoot of Shiv Sena, seem to have missed out on some national and global developments like liberalisation, free market, globalisations et al.
So sticking to the strategy of discrimination this time there is a demand for reservations for Marathi Speaking people. I am not sure if people born in Maharashtra who speak other languages are eligible to benefit by this demand. Anyways, there has been some opposition to this but no serious action can be expected on this request. Why? Isn’t a non-Marathi speaking, law abiding, taxpaying citizen living in Maharashtra an Indians? And isn’t Maharashtra a part of India? Well I am not sure if it really matters. Discrimination is a part of Indian politics no one is going to stop MNS or any other person or party on such demands. Upgrading the skill set by improving educational institution or creating jobs by improving infrastructure is a time consuming and difficult task. Dividing people is easy, it has been happening from generations and no one has questioned it. It just requires a criterion and a microphone and a bunch of people who can bully those few who oppose.
Politicians, especially those elected are supposed to represent the people are given the responsibility to take decisions that are good for the country both in the short term and in the long term. Dividing people on caste and religion is injurious both in the short term and in the long term. A simple look at the history of India will make that clear. The wonder of Indian Politics is that even when there is no evidence of benefit there is no alternative suggested and neither is there a review of reasons for little or no benefits on the contrary there is a push for more reservations. The Common Civil Code has been discussed for a few hours and the concept of eradicating the cast system and replacing it by an Economic Condition based criteria, where people are monitored and helped to move out of a Low/No Income Benefit Group might probably be considered a serious offence in Indian Politics.
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