From: rkrithiv@hopi.intel.com (Ramamurthy Krithivas)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: BJP
Date: 21 Jan 1993 19:19:34 GMT
Organization: Intel Corp., Chandler AZ.
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: pima.intel.com

From: jakhan@IASTATE.EDU (Javed Ahmed Khan)

> I've always wondered why BJP supporters always put ties with Israel
> at the top of their list, sometimes even higher than ties with the US.

 One of the factor that kept India away from Israel  was the  Muslim 
 lobby.  Perhaps it would be  a good  idea to ask  the  Muslim lobby 
 why they were so much against Israel. One reason for BJP to raise a
 point of order. 

 Irrespective of whether you are a BJP'ite or Cong-I'te : 

 India's  closeness with  Arafat, because of our Pro-Soviet leanings, 
 meant that we have to support all those who were fighting  American  
 influence. Isralies   existence  has been mostly  because  of their  
 tenacity, but also  because of American help. Hence that can be one 
 more reason. Nothing more has harmed India than her close relation-
 ship with communist countries. 

 Also India is/was fighting  terrorism in the name of Islam, that is
 being fuelled by the Islam fanatic state of Pakistan. So perhaps it
 would be good to allign  yourself with a country that is fighting a
 similar battle, against terrorism in the name of Islam. It would be
 futile to  allign with Islamic  countries, as they  will not cast a 
 vote in your favour, if it is a matter concerning Islam, even if it
 were used by its followers to whip up terrorism. 

 Pragmatism should define your objectives. Even if that means that a
 section of the population in India, particulary the muslims,if they 
 were to feel insulted because of India's allignment with Israel. In 
 all the  time that India antagonized  Israel, did the Indian muslim 
 lobbies ask their brothers of Iran/Pak/Afganistan to stop them from 
 funnelling arms and money into Kashmir ? 
 [On the contrary Israels assistance has helped break the backbone of
 terrorism. That implies peace for ALL !!]. 

 Most of  the  mid-east  countries  have "some" reason to antagonize 
 Israel, that their land has been taken by the "zionist". Why should 
 those events guide the opinions of Indian Muslims[few/some/all]. 

 Also When Libya is blockaded by US. There will be a protest in India. 
 When Iraq is bombed by US. There will be a protest  in India. During 
 Iran Iraq [Shia/Sunni ??]  there were factions in India that were at 
 logger heads.  Why ?? 

 Why should some Muslims of India, let events beyond their control and
 in faraway lands let them control OUR/EVERYONE's lives. 

 What is that they hope to achieve by their constant calls of support
 and concern to their squabbling brothers yonder ? 

 What makes them not feel that their destiny and hopes are by events 
 in India, and not whether US blocks Libya or Syria. 

 What makes their attention transfixed some where else, where as they
 claim [and RIGHTFULLY so] that they are a part of the Indian heritage.

 [A general Muslim from Tirunelveli might not be so vociferous. But 
  those who are politically active, are vociferous in these regards.
 ]

 If you and everyone were to take these into account, as to why some
 of the Hindu groups in India require many swear their alliegence to
 Rama and the events in Ayodhya, they might be helpful. However ugly
 events  turned out to be, everybody have their healthy share of the 
 blame. 

 Calling BJP fascist or that Indian Muslims betray their motherland 
 by the above  actions  is not  going to solve  the  problem. India 
 needs a solution to get rid of her maladies. She will get it. 

Krithi. 

[
 Please note that one need not be a fasicst if one were to confront a
 problem direct. We  Indians  have  failed to  do  so, and every time 
 some  problem stuck up, it was either hushed up or considered solved
 under some pretext [secularism/democracy et al]. 

 Every such problem that was hushed up in the cabinet are making their
 come-out's in gargantuan proportions. We have to pay the penalty, and
 we are. Such a great nation as ours, with history dating to thousands
 of years is called a strife torn land, poverty stricken land, censured
 for human rights abuse and what not. We have to live with such painful
 epithets. 
]
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian