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| India-Pakistan |
| How many Muslims do you have, Govt asks armed forces |
| 2006-02-13 |
| For the first time ever, all three wings of the armed forces have been asked by the Government to provide data on how many Muslims are there in their ranks, which positions they hold, even their role in some key operations. This controversial Muslim-specific survey, ordered last March by the Prime Minister’s Office, is on despite objections raised by the Army that such an exercise could send the wrong signal to what is, by tradition, a secular, apolitical organisation. But this objection was overruled. For the record, this survey forms part of what the Government calls its efforts to promote “minority welfare” by studying the social, economic and education status of the Muslim community in India. Behind it is a seven-member committee headed by Justice (retired) Rajender Sachar. June is the deadline for its report. Justice Sachar told The Sunday Express that the military is not different from any other Central government organisation. ‘‘We are still to get the figures,’’ he said. Apparently not satisfied with merely Muslim figures in the military, the Sachar Committee is also asking questions relating to operations, like the one in Hyderabad in 1948 to the Kargil War in 1999. Quoting extracts from a book Khaki and the Ethnic Violence in India by Omar Khalidi, the Sachar Committee late last month asked the Army to confirm whether 700 Muslims deserted during ‘‘Operation Polo (Hyderabad operations)’’ in 1948. And whether then Leh-based III Division Commander V S Budhwar wanted Muslim villagers evicted from Turtok along the Line of Control (LoC) in Ladakh during Operation Vijay in 1999. The Army is yet to reply to this. But on January 9, 2006, it told the Sachar Committee that the seniormost Muslim officer in the Indian Army is Lt General ZU Shah, brother of celebrated actor Naseeruddin Shah, who is the Commander of the Dimapur-based III Corps. And that there were 29,093 Muslims in the Army in 2004, including more than 29 battalions that had a sizeable number of the community. For instance, the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry has a 50 per cent Muslim strength. That there is disquiet in the forces is evident given that, in August 2005, the Army declined to give information about Muslims in its ranks. It told the Sachar Committee that the Army is apolitical in character in which people from all communities and regions work together irrespective of caste, creed and religion. And that the Army does not maintain data relating to various castes or religions. Also, the Army said, it would be improper to collect such data as it would send a wrong message to troops. But Sachar Committee’s Member-Secretary Abusaleh Shariff complained to Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee in October 2005 that while the Air Force and the Navy had passed on the relevant information, the Army was making a fuss about it on the grounds of regimental spirit and cohesion. The next day, Army chief General J J Singh met Mukherjee to apprise him of the “sensitivity” needed in such an operation. But this evidently has had little effect. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #11 The commander in chief of the Indian military is a muslim. Several senior Indian government ministers are muslims. There are no questions about their loyalty. This is about affirmative action to INCREASE the number of muslims in the armed forces. This is an election plank of the Indian Congress-I party. |
| Posted by: john 2006-02-13 21:15 |
| #10 India has a large Muslim population, and lately, numerous murders comitted by muzzies against Hindus and Christians. I think India has become alamed and they are preparing to take steps to assure a trustworthy military. Maybe they'll move the muzzies to the navy, where they can't do much harm without mutiny. There is serious presure from the Hindus about the lack of civility from the muzzies. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-02-13 21:04 |
| #9 How sad for India that the Indian National Congress, the political party of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and Nehru has sunk to such lows... Communal politics in the army. Soon officers will be demanding promotion based on their religion and the reserved positions... |
| Posted by: john 2006-02-13 18:03 |
| #8 The Congress party wants this because it wants to extend its programme of affirmative action to the Indian army. This is coming from the PMO's office - Sonia Gandhi and it is plain votebank politics.. looking for the muslim vote. It will be Dalit-untouchable time next. India already runs the largest affirmative action program in the world, reserving 50 percent of all jobs to so called lower castes. The Congres wants to extend their caste based politics to the army in order to win votes. |
| Posted by: john 2006-02-13 17:51 |
| #7 Don't think this isn't already running through heads at the Pentagon. If they've had to begin reconsidering Islam as a political ideology, then this sort of screening is not too far behind. Takiiya is a powerful incentive to scrutinize Muslims. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-02-13 16:28 |
| #6 For the first time ever, all three wings of the armed forces have been asked by the US Government to provide data on how many Muslims are there in their ranks, which positions they hold, even their role in some key operations. It is about time. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-02-13 16:11 |
| #5 What, no seething? where's CAIR's Indian counterpart? Until recently, they haven't felt the need. They already have govt. sanctioned sharia-lite in certain tribal and muslim-majority areas. |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2006-02-13 12:50 |
| #4 What, no seething? where's CAIR's Indian counterpart? |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2006-02-13 11:34 |
| #3 Somebody has a clue! |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-02-13 06:49 |
| #2 Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Time to pay the Indians that complement, methinks. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-02-13 00:33 |
| #1 Oh it's India. Sorry. I'll shut down the ululator now. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2006-02-13 00:30 |