We can heave a sigh of relief.
The Common Wealth Games takes off today and it looks like it might go off without any major hitches. Despite our reservations about the gross mismanagement and corruption, no one wants India to lose face in the International Arena. Recriminations can follow, and must - but post the Games. The people responsible for the massive corruption should be brought to book- but I suspect they wont be.
The Ayodhya verdict has come and gone. The sky did not fall down. People accepted the verdict laconically and just got on with their life. To say that they are indifferent is incorrect. People do have strong feelings about it, but have decided to keep it to themselves. Or is it that the mischief mongers in the political parties decided to keep quiet for reasons of their own? One of the recurring themes one hears is about how poverty has driven the muslims to extremism in India. This do not hold water. Poverty in India is across the religions, irrespective of whether they are hindus, muslims, christians, sikhs or jains. With 60% of the people below the poverty line, it has to be like that. But why do others cite this as a reason for extremism. This is something to be reflected upon. The Kerala muslims are better off than their counterparts elsewhere, thanks to the Gulf Money and their enterpreneurial nature. The State has been very inclusive all these years, with Indian Union Muslim league being a part of any government that is in power and holding plum portfolios like PWD, Education. But today, Kerala is one of the breeding grounds for extremism in India, which is sad. I was in the State recently, and could sense an undercurrent that was discomforting to say the least. I hope better sense prevails.
