Finally, some dose of common sense

N-deal is in India’s interests, nothing to do with Muslims: Dr. Saleem Kidwai

After some self proclaimed representatives of Indian Muslims including BSP chief Mayawati, CPM and a certain muslim MP claiming that the nuclear deal was against the interest of Muslims, we have some one from their own community who doesn’t think so. Dr. A.R.M. Saleem Kidwai, Associate Professor at School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi), in an interview with TwoCircles.net has claimed that the N-deal is in the nation’s interest and has got nothing to do with muslims.

It has nothing to do with religion. It does involve India’s national interests. If it is serving national interests or not, in either case, it is going to affect the entire population of India, irrespective of religion, caste, creed or other things. It is absurd to say the deal has Muslim connotation or interests. Muslims are as good Indian as any other community is. Why then Muslims are being singled out as they are having a different view. I strongly disagree with this proposition. Among Muslims there may be people who may be opposed to the deal, there may be people who are for it and there may be people who are neutral or indifferent. And this case can be as much true with Hindus and Christians. There is no special frame about Muslims. [TwoCircles]

It is great that certain muslims can see that the Nuclear deal has got nothing to do with religion. Regarding, his query on why muslims are singled out, the answer is simple – yes, there are hindus who oppose the deal, there are christians who oppose the deal, but none of them oppose the deal on the religious grounds except some muslims. That is the problem.

And regarding those who claim it is against the interest of Indian Muslims, he has this to say:

Who has given them the right to speak on behalf of Indian Muslims? They are just self-styled spokespersons of the Muslim community. Not only these parties some clerics in Lucknow also have expressed such views. I strongly oppose it because the deal has no Muslim connotation; it has nothing to do with Islam or Muslims. [ibid]

Postscript:

In fact, it seems the vast majority of the Muslim Mps have no problem with the nuclear deal as espoused by some.

Of the 37 Muslims who are currently Lok Sabha MPs, 26 are in parties that are part of the UPA or have declared their support for the government in the vote, while 11 are with anti-deal parties like the CPM, BSP, BJP or JD(U).

TOI spoke to most of them on Wednesday and found hardly any who see the issue as having anything to do with the community. [Times Of India]