Editorial: A PM from Minority
…people like Manmohan Singh has stopped entering politics, be it majority or minorities and the rank of prime minister is one which, as history suggests, only someone with capability and a consensus on his leadership can occupy. With the entire political system taking in either moneyed people, musclemen, or dynasts; how a different leader can emerge from minorities…
When Congress general secretary Rahul announced in Muslim Aligarh University that religion has nothing to do with PM’s rank, it was a quite innovative statement for correcting an otherwise misconception, that someone belonging to minorities is less likely to don the country’s highest executive post. Well, Gandhi’s remarks were response to a query: after six decades of independence, how much long will it take for the country to have its first Muslim PM. In a secular democracy, this question is natural, even necessary. Gandhi answered the question in right spirit, he said that Manmohan is PM because of his capability and any capable Muslim leader can be one in future. Rather than looking at the response as a mere sweet-talk, it should be seen in broader perspective and seriously. Manmohan Singh is an example, indeed. He became prime minister, for he was the most eligible leader among his contemporaries in Congress. This is the point that minorities should take note of. Muslims have more population than Sikhs and so it’s easier for them. What a minority community needs to do is to show a commitment to find prospective promising leaders among it, back, and promote them. There’s sufficient reason to believe that all political parties, let alone Congress, are willing to give proper place to such leaders in their organization and government.
However, a very crucial question arises in our mind, that people like Manmohan Singh has stopped entering politics, be it majority or minorities and the rank of prime minister is one which, as history suggests, only someone with capability and a consensus on his leadership can occupy. When the entire political system is taking in either moneyed people and musclemen, or dynasts; how a different leader can emerge from minorities. Instead of a good neta, they can also settle on some moneyed person or musclemen for the purpose, who, even after rising higher, will not obviously be the choice for prime ministership. Problem of minorities is not, in fact, entirely theirs. It’s whole country’s. Right, at present it’s hard to find a promising young leader from minorities in the country, which suggests that an increased entry of demoralized elements in politics have most adversely affected minorities, depriving them of an entire prospective generation of leaders. So apart from a community’s collective effort to promote a good leader from among them, political parties have to make contribution in that direction, as well. They have to make entry into organization more reformed and strengthen internal democracy.
Yes, India will definitely have its prime ministers from minority communities in eras to come. Political parties will take their own time to change themselves and their traditions. So, it’s simple that the minority community – even majority – which first realizes the prospects of good leaders (who would be rare in future) and find and elevate them, will have next Prime Minister.
