Friday, August 12, 2005

Secular!?

Of late... I have been reading Arun Shourie's book called the "Secular Agenda"... wherein he brings forth several crucial and contorversial concerns ranging from India's sense of nationalism to the so-called secularism that is preached and practiced in the country.

He pointed out an interesting fact... to which I have no answer as yet!

In India... administration of all large Hindu temples are assisted by IAS officers... who are basically well trained and thouroughly equipped to handle large organizations. Most important of all... they are accountable to the constitution and any misdeeds can actually be challenged at the courts. Whereas.... when it comes to administrating mosques the government has given all rights and powers to the Waqf board. This is perhaps done out of concern for Indian Muslims as a minority community. This total disregard of regulation and control makes room exploitation and missappropriation of funds that are actually meant to serve the community. Shourie brings forth the question... that don't Muslims as Indian citizens have a right to efficient governance of their places of worship??

I have been thinking over this... and I believe that they do... but then... if a government takes such a step... would it considered as an act against minority rights??