Misuse of Muslim Identity

Irfan Engineer Indian Muslims since Independence by Omar Khalidi; Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi, 1995; pp xii+246, Rs 295.
THE Sangh parivar has always targeted the largest religious minority of the country, viz, the Muslims, and called it a pampered community. They have time and again attacked the entire Muslim community by creating its stereotyped image. 'Muslim identity' generated by the stereotypes is then proclaimed to be essentially anti-Indian (read anti-Hindu). The communal leadership of Syed Shahabuddin. Owaisi, Banatwala, et al, also have politically exploited such a construction of a distinct Muslim identity. Their dispute with the Sangh parivar is not on the existence or non-existence of a Muslim identity but that the Muslim identity is not detrimental to the national interest.