Indian brand of competitive secularism was at its best when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy announced subsidy for Christians going on pilgrimage to the holy land in Israel. This he announced despite the validity of the Haj subsidy is being questioned in courts as being unconstitutional. Earlier, he had tried to give benefit of reservation to Muslims who comprise about 9 per cent of state's population.

'Secular' political parties of India are indulging in this type of secularism since country's independence. In doing so, Congress seems to be the trendsetter as for long India remained virtually a single party democracy. In its eagerness to woo Muslims who didn't opt for Pakistan, after independence it admitted Muslim leaders who earlier were part of Muslim League. After independence it pursued their brand of Muslim politics and even put Maulana Azad, its tallest Muslim leader, in background. It put the principle of Maulana on the backburner and tried to fill the space vacated by Muslim League. Slowly it was adopted by all 'secular' parties and spread on other religious minorities too. Haj subsidy was such a step, though a Muslim state like Pakistan doesn't grant such subsidy. Interestingly Islamic clerics don't approve Haj subsidy as according to them, it goes against the spirit of the Shariat and such pilgrimage may not be accepted by God. When Hindu groups raised voice against it, then government promptly started giving subsidy for pilgrimage of Kailash Mansarovar too. Subsidy announced for Christians is one more step in this direction.

Muslims are intentionally and systematically kept backward by such tokenism of various secular parties. By such steps certain section of Muslims can feel happy, but these steps are keeping whole community backward and creating doubts in the minds of other communities. Such steps cater to the feelings of the community but they can't make them competitive to progress in life and raise their standard of living. When an average individual sees progress around him and finds himself incapable to move ahead then he is misused by the anti-national elements. Then a doubt is put in his mind by these secular parties and religious leaders about a conspiracy of other communities to keep him backward.

On the real and development front, these parties are always found lacking. A recent Central government report on minority projects points it out very clearly. This report is the evaluation of minority specific projects started by state governments as recommended by Sachchar committee. This report has put the performance of states in three categories, good, fair and bad. Among all UPA ruled states only Haryana comes in good category. All other states in this category are ruled by 'communal' NDA. And biggest surprise is that Gujarat also comes in this category. This proved so embarrassing to UPA ruled Central government that now it's 'thinking' that Gujarat government might have diverted the funds earmarked for minority projects. Even 'fair' category is occupied mostly by NDA ruled states and none of the NDA ruled states is in 'bad' category. Most UPA ruled states and Left ruled West Bengal come in 'bad' category. This report clearly shows the real work done by these 'secular' parties and their intentions. They very well know that if minorities, especially Muslims, become self-confident and come out of their phobia then they will be out of their clutches. This way they will lose their biggest and captive vote bank. Their advantage lies in keeping this fear psychosis alive. They, therefore, keep stroking this phobia of Muslims and keep giving such meaningless subsidies and grants. Minorities and Muslims are also responsible for this state as their religious leaders hobnob with such political elements and don't allow the masses to go beyond religious issues. This report of a 'secular' government should act as an eye-opener for minorities and specially Muslims.

This is high time that they stop putting all their proverbial eggs in one basket only. When they spread their eggs and support so called 'communal' parties then those parties will also take care of them and 'secular' parties will stop taking them as granted.

Actually the model of secularism which we preached and practiced since independence is alien to our culture. It is imported from Europe with their democratic system. Europe had its compulsion to practice this type of secularism as it had the long history of interference of church in state. Church also tried to finish other religions. Hence when state tried to be separated from the influence of church, it had to guarantee the rights of religious minorities who were apprehensive about the intentions of church. In India religion never interfered with state hence no religious minority was crushed or discriminated against. It happened because no sect of Hinduism has the concept of conversion and they all believe that various roads can lead to God. This is proved in a Supreme Court judgment too in Manohar Joshi case, where apex court observed that Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. Hence the type of secularism which we have been practicing is not suited to our society. This competitive secularism has brought us to this situation of intolerance. If we continued practising it, we will reach to the state of anarchy.

m_vivek32@yahoo.com (Akriti)