A dangerous romance

Time was when Mulayam Singh Yadav revelled in his status as 8220;Maulana8221; Singh Yadav, the supreme champion of Uttar Pradesh8217;s Muslims. The acrimonious events of May changed all that. He had to suddenly bear the onus for actively preventing the formation of a 8220;secular8221; alternative to the BJP government. Besides, the grapevine was abuzz with rumours that he was striking dubious deals with 8220;communal forces8221;. So what does the Samajwadi Party chief do as he finds the ground shifting beneath his feet? He releases that familiar creature 8212; the genie of reservations. His party, he announces, will reserve jobs and seats in educational institutions and legislatures for Muslims if voted to power.

The move insults the intelligence of the supposed beneficiaries of Mulayam Singh8217;s largesse, because the Constitution does not allow for religion-based reservations and it is very unlikely that the Samajwadi Party can alter this reality. Even more importantly, it undermines the very principles that undergird reservations.The efficacy of any move that institutionalises positive discrimination hinges on it benefitting the truly marginalised. Therefore, while it is only right that Dalits, tribals and backward castes are the recipients of special reservations given the discrimination they have faced over the centuries, religious categories are, by their very nature, too broad to be thus privileged. While a case can be made for backward sections among minorities being given reservations, it would be a gross travesty of justice for the more prosperous to benefit in this manner just by virtue of being part of a minority. Indeed, in today8217;s world of crass political lobbying, the original intent behind the statutes ensuring positive discrimination is all but forgotten. Reservations have become just another instrument of political aggrandizement.

Sadly, it8217;s not just pretend maulanas who play this game. Every major party in these elections has attempted to woo significant sections by employing similar strategies. The Congress has hadto pay for its cynical wooing of Rajasthan8217;s Jats during the assembly elections last November by promising reservations. The Gehlot ministry8217;s inability to redeem this pledge has led to the Jat Mahasabha turning hostile to the party this time round. But that has not stopped the Congress from reiterating the same promise once again. What8217;s more, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, in his recent election visit to western Rajasthan, also promised reservations for Jats 8212; again in a bid to win over this influential votebank. This has not only alienated the Rajput supporters of the BJP, but made a mockery of the principle of social justice once again. The Jats are not a marginalised group by any reckoning. In fact, the Dalits in the region have traditionally regarded themselves as victims of Jat domination. Such competitive patronage is a lazy way to garner votes and will only result in more and more groups clamouring for similar recognition. But what do the politicians care? Their sights are set on the immediategains to be had from shotgun marriages to electorally powerful groups. The rest be damned.