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Chidambaram: address issue of minorities alienation

Special Correspondent

Finance Minister warns of “new waves of terror”

NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday warned of “new waves of terror” if the alienation of minority communities was not addressed.

“There is the challenge of alienation of the Muslim community and, more recently, of the Christian community. The divide between Muslims and Hindus is taking new and dangerous forms – ghettoisation, social boycott, discrimination in employment and the blurring of lines between state and religion as was seen in Gujarat.

“Out of the hopelessness and despair of the Muslim community – and if not addressed firmly, the Christian tribal communities too – will rise new waves of terror. There is no other explanation for the phenomenon of graduates and engineers and doctors – born, educated and living in India – taking to the path of violence,” he said delivering the Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa Memeorial Lecture here.

Mr. Chidambaram said the issue of economic transformation to sustain a high growth was “intricately” related to India’s place in the geo-politics of the region. Describing India as living in a troubled neighbourhood, he said the country’s security, consisting of many elements such as food security, energy security, financial stability, border security, was impacted by events in the neighbourhood.

The ethnic strife in Sri Lanka had pushed thousands of refugees across the Palk Straits into India. The “near-failure” of the state in Bangladesh triggered massive migration to India. Myanmar, while “overtly friendly,” continued to give shelter to insurgent groups and Pakistan was “implacably opposed” to India. Nepal remained an “enigma.” With respect to China there was the “nagging doubt” whether it would regard India “as an equal or as an upstart” and what would its “attitude be” if India’s economic strength begins to equal that of China.

Both External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Mr. Chidambaram lauded Field Marshal Cariappa for ensuring the army’s apolitical stance.

In contrast, Pakistan tryst with destiny ended after 11 years of Independence and Myanmar’s democratic system collapsed after 14 years and the army took over.

In Sri Lanka, when the crises accentuated it had to switch over in the late 70s from the Parliamentary form to the Presidential of Government.

“For continuation of the largest functional democracy, we have to salute the apolitical role of the armed forces,” observed Mr. Mukherjee.

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