Mani Shankar Aiyar raises the matter of Muslims subjected to loyalty test

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar today wondered if there was any "bigger crime" than asking Muslims who chose India during Partition as to whether they are loyal to the country or not.

Speaking on 'Indian Muslims in democratic India' at an event here, he hailed the country's syncretic traditions, adding, "Islam can't be thought of without India, and India can't be imagined without Islam."

"Those who wan't to break this relationship are anti-nationals. Muslims had the opportunity to leave and a large number of them stayed back.

"Now, what can be the bigger crime than asking these Muslims who chose stay back whether they are loyal?...Those who insist on this loyalty test seem to forget that the name of the force that Subhash Chandra Bose had raised was Azad Hind Fauz and not swatantra bharat sena," Aiyar said.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who also spoke at the event held at the Constitution Club, echoed Aiyar's views while adding that the meaning of nationalism is "not to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai".

"When a Muslim had opted for India, did he not automatically prove his loyalty to the country? The meaning of nationalism is not to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai. It means being sensible towards the people who live in India," Bhushan said.