This refers to the editorial, “One outrageous demand!”(April 15). Thankfully, the Shiv Sena’s Muslim-pounding has cut no ice with any political party, and its MP Sanjay Raut’s brainchild of Muslim disenfranchisement in India has fallen flat. The BJP, that leads both the Governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra with the Sena as its ally, has opted to distance itself from this unpalatable plea.
Moreover, even if Mr Raut’s claim about Muslims being used as a vote-bank by some political parties carries weight, why should the Muslims become the scapegoat for the follies of these partiesIJ Realising that he has no support, the Shiv Sena MP has now gone back on his statement and claimed he was misinterpreted.
As regards to the allegation about parties resorting to Muslim appeasement, no other than the fourth estate knows better about the sorry plight of the community in every field of life. If there has been appeasement, it has not helped the community.