Luring Muslim Vote

the labour party in britain has done wonderful things in britain it laid the foundations of a welfare state the first in europe if not the world the national health service free at the point of need the, envy of the world.it stood against the racist policies of enoch powell and the national front it protected the rights of minorities with the race relations bill.


while i was at university the most frequent comment by indians, pakistanis, iranians,and arabs was that why can`t our countries be like this.

Secular India, what a joke. The proper term is Hindu India. Few examples and definition on secularism.

Definition of secularism from the random house college dictionary:

`` tendency of a political and social philosophy that rejects all forms of religious faiths.``

In the llight os the above definition, I ask this question:

Is India Secular? I do not think so.

Based on the definition of the word ``secularism`` from the random house college dictionary, when applied to any governemt, means that legislation, judiciary and exective branches of the government should not even come close to any religious idea when conducting business.



Just pull out a 100 rupee Indian note and look at the four faced (one face not visible) lion. To my understanding the Lion pertains to Hindu religion. Compared to USA, pull out a dollar bill and look closely. You will not find any relevance to any religion although USA is predominantly Christian.

Now look at the Indian Flag.

The Chakkar pertains to a Hindu king. Now look at the USA flag. You will not find any relevance to any religion.

And how come when I call the Indian consulate in USA I hear ``Namaskar.`` If India is secular then why not just Good Morning as in USA. Don`t tell me is Namasker is secular term.

In fact in USA the famous ``Ten-Commanments`` plaque have been removed from many places by filing lawsuit in the supereme court of USA. There is a recent lawsuit which is trying to remove the word ``God`` from the pledge of alligience.

In USA you will find secularism at its best. Gay marraiges in USA are now legal since the majority voted for the measure and won. Try doing this in India!

So India might be an example of democracy but secularism is quite another thing.

Religion and politics are so intensively entangled together in Pakistan that our country is stuck in the rut and is hardly going anywhere when we compare it to India. When we Pakish come abroad, we bring the same religious loaded mentality with us carrying religion on our shoulders wherever we go and pitch in religion in almost every issue we encounter.

Religion is a private mind and soul relationship between an individual and God. Islam is very dear to me; I like to keep it in my heart, I like to worship it in my house, I like to worship in my mosque. I do not like to externalise my Islam because the moment I do so it gets associated with Bin Laden and others which people in the world hate and despise.

Mr Straw said what he said because we wanted to hear what he said, and he said because he wants our votes. Mr Straw could go next door and say exactly the same to Hindus or any other minority community in the country to sway their support. Therefore to dance with glee because of Mr Straw saying so is naivety and I see no wisdom in author writing this article. All he has done has externalised Muslimism and we could see the criticism streaming out from #1 niranjan and others.


However, I agree entirely with #1 niranjan and I am glad that he aired his honest views trying to put some sense into our Pakish heads.

K. Malik

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This is a Labour Manifesto and a lot of Junk...

Labour has done nothing more than the absolute minimum any govt would do for any minority. The photo shoots by the PM and the various ministers are as much a justification for their cruelties around the world as a cover up to show how much they care about muslims whilst they bomb them all over the world. Labour and all its cronies are a bunch of con artists.

RESPECT headed by George Galloway is the only Party that really consider Muslims and their issues and George Galloway has proven this by his actions. He has fought for the Muslims whilst our Muslim MPs and Lords are running up to support the Govt in all their attrocities. Vote for RESPECT, Vote for Galloway..

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#6 shehryar...i never said everything is peachy in india and all communities love each other...if you`re of indian origin the tone of your interact would have been different...problems will arise in a multicultural society and fundamentalists of all hues will be prevalent but it is the majority that always prevails...and, the majority in india is by and large peaceful and committed to a democratic,multicltural society...the richest indian today is an indian muslim...i rest my case...the point i was trying to make is that , what has being muslim got to do with worship, residence in an alien land or one`s profession??..why is it so that muslims always have to assert their ``muslimness`` over their ``humanness``..why the proverbial ``chip` on their shoulder, if i may ask??...i`m curious...if almost 200 million muslims can claim India as their motherland and make a mark for themselves in the world stage from ustad vilayat khan,zakir hussain,ismail merchant(of merchant and ivory fame),president dr.apj abdul kalam,cricketeers zaheer khan, irfan pathan and mohammed kaif,actors shah rukh khan,aamir khan,shabana azmi et al..i could go on and on...these are some of the proud indians who have made a mark for themselves in their country regardless of their race, religion or national origin...that`s why india is respested...`cause despite ugly incidents created by a few the majority is secular and ultimately prevails...

You cannot be of indian origin or you wouldn`t belittle your country...i studied in a US campus too and all indians stuck together regardless of which ethnic community we belonged to or language we spoke or religion we professed....

shehryar #6

The reason Indian does not come across as a bully or rogue state is due to its superb international diplomacy.

And why are Pakistanis incapable of `superb international diplomacy?` Is it something to do with birth defects? :)

to urstruly...i`m sick of hearing about the indian elections too...governments come and go...anyone remember deve gowda as prime minister of india...why all the brouhaha now...i`m an indian american and this is the first time the american media has given extensive coverage to the indian elections too...

#6 by shehryar
//...Do you think that Indians would ever be so gracious to Pakistanis?...//

That will depend on where pakis cross the border. Those who cross LOC will be sent to heaven - to meet the huris and gillmans.

Those pakis who cross at wagah with a visa - they can visit whatever dargah or tomb or madrassa. But in general they will be ignored. There will be NO outpouring of ``hospitality``. Considering the way the world treats pakis these days and terrorism and hate campagn that they have executed against Indians - that`s more than what you could expect.

#6 by shehryar
//...Do you think that Indians would ever be so gracious to Pakistanis?...//

That will depend on where pakis cross the border. Those who cross LOC will be sent to heaven - to meet the huris and gillmans.

Those pakis who cross at wagah with a visa - they can visit whatever dargah or tomb or madrassa. But in general they will be ignored. There will be NO outpouring of ``hospitality``. Considering the way the world treats pakis these days and terrorism and hate campagn that they have executed against Indians - that`s more than what you could expect.

If the best the Lib dems have in manchester is Qassim Afzal..I say be afraid..be very afraid!

Personally speaking the Muslim vote will NOT be voting Labour this time, despite admittdely the good the party has done. Politics is not always about give and take, sometimes it`s just raw emotions and the mood amongst the Muslims is very very angry.

# 3 stuka, you are quite right, this article does sound like a pamphlet from Labour Party.

And #1 niranjan, it is true that Pakistanis and Bengalis were deported etc and that India is not on the list of potential terrorist-harboring countries.

However, India is FAR from practising secular administration. Religion is at the core of personal life as well as businesses in India. It would be foolish to take lessons from India that has failed to handle its internal terrorism and conveniently blamed it on Pakistan and other factions.

It seems that you have been out of touch with the internal affairs of India. Let me give you a refresher.

Are you aware of the atrocities commited to the sikhs after indra was assasinated? Thousands of innocent sikhs were tortured and detained (not to mention killed).

Have you heard of the mass graves and torture cells that have been operated by the indian troops in Jummu?

Have Indian muslims no spine that they allowed the Ayodhia mosque to be razed to the ground, or was that part of becoming secular in india?

Did you hear about the riots in 1992 (dont remember exact date) in Bombay that left thousands of muslims homeless and hundreds dead, while the Bombay police silently watched?

And yes, the more recent one. Gujrat incident?? Ring a bell??

And this is your secular India??? You gotta be kidding.

The lesson we can learn from India is that it harbors many cultures and religions that have very different believes and history of conflict. It cannot manage them fairly. But it certainly knows how to sugar-coat itself for the benefit of the world.

The reason Indian does not come across as a bully or rogue state is due to its superb international diplomacy. Additionally, it has produced men (and women) of distinction that have created a good name for their country. India had long been considered a country of fascination and charm by many naive westerners. Not any more, even though it has support from the media.

Around most campuses in US I visited as a grad student, I was told ``never ever work with a chinese or indian``. What does that tell you?

Many of my American friends who are fond of indian food and clothing have very poor opinions about Indian people in general. Many people who appreciate Indians are the ones who see them from a distance. Again its the Indian diplomacy that comes to rescue. And its easy to give illusions to the spiritually hungry westerners.

We all heard about the great hospitality that the Pakistanis showed to Indians at the cricket matches in Pakistan. Do you think that Indians would ever be so gracious to Pakistanis? Never. Why? Because Indians are too arrogant and malicious by nature.

I am from Indian origin, but I prefer to tell people that I am Canadian. And many Indian muslims I know share similar sentiments esp after gujrat incident.

The only religious minority that enjoys favor in India is christians. Otherwise, its basically a hindu land. Its about time Indian muslims realize that.

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I am sick and tired of reading fukking Indian elections. Couldn`t people write on anything else for crying out loud? Here is a prediction. Manmohan government is expected to last 15 months no more no less. Now there you have it - the gypsy curse.

This article is bull because it sounds like a Labor Party pamphlet!!