Vox pop: Divisive talk is all politics

New Delhi: By his now-famous remark conferring ‘first claim on country's resources’ to the Muslims, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not only invited the wrath of the Opposition, he seems to have outraged an even larger audience of common men on the street.

Or that is the feeling we gathered from some 180-odd people who wrote back to us spontaneously, expressing surprise that their 'dear' economist PM could 'play cheap vote bank politics' and put politics ahead of developmental goals.

A huge majority of the readers have also slammed the UPA Government for what they call a bid to divide the nation on religious lines.

It's not only the government which has been attacked, even the image of the reformist economist in Dr Manmohan Singh seems to have taken a beating as a result of this row. Among those who wrote back, there are also a few who have lambasted the BJP for making such a big issue of the remark.

"The PM's remark has once again exposed the pseudo-secularism of the Congress. It's vote bank politics at its peak! No other nation in the world has bent backwards to appease the minorities at the expense of the majority. Only this country will do it thanks to such mindless policies by an archaic political party," says Kamesh.

"It looks like the Congress is trying to split India on the basis of religion. Earlier it was quota and now PM's Muslim appeasement," writes Mahesh.

"If the BJP separates 84 per cent from the rest, the Congress divides the 100 per cent into several smaller groups - Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, SCs, OBCs. To me, this strategy sounds familiar to the one used by British," observes Ashish.

"PM's remarks are nothing short of sacrilege. Make India a no-religion, no-caste country immediately. Else India will be dismembered. We don't need Kashmiri militants or terrorists, PM and Sonia are enough," reads another response.

BrahmaSwarup Varma says PM's remark was 'shocking but not surprising'. "Vote bank politics led to Partition of our motherland in 1947. The Congress party did it then. They are doing much worse now. In order to appease Dalits, Muslims, Christians and even militant groups in Telangana etc. the party is dividing the nation into many, many pieces," he says.

Lakshmeesha, too, sees a 'deliberate attempt' in PM's remark to woo a particular section of the society. "The PM should have been more careful in selecting the words. Also, the explanation offered by the PMO tells the same thing in maybe more words. Every Indian has a right over the resources. Hence, the PM must retract his statement," she adds.

Bhaskar Chatterjee also feels the clarification from the PMO cuts no ice. "SC/ST are not minority. Moreover, minorities can never have first claim on resources on any country," he points out.

Maruthi Kumar regrets that "a person like Manmohan Singh has given this irresponsible comments. I was happy when he became the Prime Minister. But day by day, I am losing his image from my mind. The Congress party has been playing dangerous games with religion and caste right from independence. Some day Congress will not even hesitate to divide the country based on caste lines to be in power," he says.

"We can expect such remarks from politicians and I think now the PM has become politician. He no longer remains an economist," write Anup Kumar Jain. "I didn't expected this from Manmohan Singh. These are the tactics which cheap politicians used to fool innocent people to get vote. He, too, has gone down to that level," rues Rakesh.

Yogesh PJ, too, doesn't believe this remark has come from the Prime Minister. "Manmohan Singh is not this kind of person. It's the Congress making him to speak, because they know if they get Assembly seats in UP, they can target for MP seats which in turn will get them majority to form the government in the Centre," he says.

Prabu also feels Dr Manmohan Singh is increasingly proving that he also a normal politician with no difference. "I think he lost good number of his admirers after becoming PM. Who knows this could be Congress' secret agenda - to create no alternative to members of Nehru dynasty for PM candidate," he writes.

Swaminathan, however, sees an attempt in this row to divert the attention of the nation from the nuclear deal issue. "I suspect this apparent mistake was done by the Congress to divert BJP from strong protest on nuclear deal where again the PM has gone back on his assurances given to political parties, scientists and the nation to safeguard national interest and the interest of Indian scientists," he says.

One section of readers also felt that the BJP is over-reacting to the issue.

"It seems that the word 'Muslim' gives the BJP a heart attack. PM said he will give a helping hand to poor Muslims as the Government has been given aid to poor Hindus for decades. What’s wrong in it? Instead of discussing how to make India self-reliant in terms of food, shelter, water, electricity etc, these politicians are busy discussing matters of less or no value in Parliament," says Iess Mohammed.

Satish Haldan also criticised the BJP, saying: "By doing this, the party is further exposing itself of being a reactionary force with single-point agenda. We as Indians have duty to uplift disenfranchised parts of our society. The Muslims in India are poor and alienated. It is in our national interest to empower all. We all know from history: disempowerment of vast population is a recipe for fault lines which can result in civil unrest." he adds.

Hanish says it's just another excuse for our esteemed politicians to not work. "How many times do we have to come across the same heading 'Parliament stalled'. What right do the parliamentarians have to blame the cricketers and ask them to be paid only on behalf of their work?"

"The secular parties like SP and the Congress understand the past injustice done to the Muslims and are trying to do something about it, however little, in the face of upper caste opposition. They get full marks and are the only hope for a long-awaited Shariat in India that alone will give justice to Muslims," observes Md Elahi.

Not many agree to the PMO's contention that the PM was 'misinterpreted'. However, there are a few like Prathap, who do think that the PM was 'misunderstood'.

"Whatever he does and tells will be good for Indians and Indian brotherhood. Because he is not a ruthless, self-centered, heartless Indian politician like Advani, Lalu. These heartless politicians need not shout. We Indians can understand his good intentions," he contends.