An absurd demand

KR Phanda

N Jamal Ansari, in his article "Open all doors to Bangladeshis" (November 4), says that since our refugee policy is hostage to Right-wing politics, illegal immigration from Bangladesh is being viewed and debated along communal lines. Instead, according to him, the refugee problem requires a humane approach. This argument is completely flawed.

Black's Law Dictionary defines refugee as "a person who flees or is expelled from a country, especially because of persecution and seeks haven in another". As Hindus are being persecuted in Bangladesh, they alone ought to be treated as refugees.

Germany, for instance, allows the entry of Turks as guest workers. They are expelled as and when they are found violating German laws. In the context of Islamist terrorist attacks, European leaders have made it clear that Muslims who have migrated to Europe and are working there must abide by the laws of the country concerned.

The problems of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have their roots in the Partition of 1947. If the corollaries of the two-nation theory had been followed, subsequent communal tensions in each country would not have arisen. Pakistan still considers Jammu & Kashmir a part of the "unfinished agenda of Partition". In a way, Pakistan is right. Mohammed Ali Jinnah had told Mahatma Gandhi in Bombay in 1944 that because of their distinct religion and history, Muslims would not be able to live peacefully with Hindus. Therefore, Gandhi should agree to his proposal of Hindustan for Hindus and Pakistan for Muslims.

Rafiq Zakaria, in his book, The Man Who Divided India, says that Jinnah had also suggested that minorities left behind after the exchange of population would be treated as reciprocal hostages by the respective Governments of India and Pakistan. The international conventions to which reference has been made by Mr Ansari have no value, particularly in Islamic countries. Non-Muslims in Islamic countries are not treated at par with Muslims. They have forever been threatened to embrace Islam or leave.

Christians in Egypt have to seek permission to build churches. Lebanon, which was once half-Christian and half-Muslim, is no longer so. How many non-Muslims are left in Pakistan? Muslims have no right to ask for more than what Islamic countries give to non-Muslims.