One of the toughest jobs in society is the job of a defense lawyer. These people often have to defend the scum of society, in cases knowing they are guilty and still have to stand in court and speak about their client's honest profile and how they saved a kitten from a truck. That however is not the job of a newspaper. The Chindu in its editorial today, decided to defend SIMI and its leader Safdar Nagori. For those who are not informed, SIMI is a Taliban like organization involved in terrorist activities across several states. The editorial by the Chindu is written here,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/01/stories/2008040155450800.htm
I usually have a strong stomach to read Chindu's junk, but this one defending the activities of a terrorist organization hits new depths even for the Chindu. Yenmin Ram decides to trade the future of the country defending a terrorist group which has been denounced by its own community. This is the exact same logic followed with the Taliban in the 80s and 90's and look where it lead the world to.
The grammar in the article is poor and with unclear logic it makes for poor reading.
a critical mass of disillusioned young Muslims who had tired of their community’s traditional leadership, and the state’s promises of secularism, equality of opportunity, and democracy.
How many of these young muslims are there?
very bitter about being Indian,” he was voicing and exploiting the rage of a generation. SIMI at the time had an estimated 40,000 ikhwan, or volunteer ‘brothers,’ and upwards of 20,000 people routinely
How many Muslims are there in India? There are about 120 million Muslims in India. How can this miniscule population be representative of an entire community?
There are hundreds of thousands of Muslims who are as patriotic, who participate in the regular processes as any citizen, who do regular jobs, who protect our borders, this article disrespects all the hardworking, honest, patriotic Muslims.
There is no explanation in the Chindu about this. Then the Chindu goes on and rambles,
Embittered at being denied social and economic equity and justice by a rising tide of communal prejudice, and angered by a brutal succession of riots, massacres, and pogroms that scarred the 1980s and 1990s, thousands of young people saw in Mr. Nagori’s calls for jihad
Which riots of the 1980's is he detailing? What pot is Yen Ram smoking? The Delhi riots perhaps, but they were against Sikhs. The imagination of Chindu runs wild here. There is little evidence of any communal prejudice against Muslims alone. Minorities in India have it far better in terms of opportunities in education, business and politics than in most countries in the world. However what they don't need is mollycoddling but idiots like Yen Ram.
The Sachar Committee report offers a quite radical blueprint for the “inclusion and mainstreaming” of India’s 150 million Muslims after addressing the specific “deficits and deprivation” with remarkable honesty.
Statements like these will be followed with plans to increase reservations based on communities in education and Government institutions. Rather than doing that, if they could ensure that the minorities get the proper schooling that would build the right foundation to alleviate any bridge if any. A lot of other minorities are in much worse shape than the Muslims, like say the Kashmiri Pandits, Tibetian expatriates, Goa Christians, people of the North East. You don't hear of these people trying to attack and blow up innocent civilians. Its easy to appease minorities by offering excuses for their current state, but unless you state the bitter truth, the first step in social equality will not be possible.