1. I disagree. Neither counts as “genuine” retribution because the people killed aren’t related to people who were responsible for any atrocity. Both types of (faux-)retributions are equally unjustified. And being apologist for one type of faux-retribution is as bad as being apologist for the other.

2. I did not say that some communities are racially inferior. I did not say that communities cannot lift themselves out of poverty. When I talked about “lifting a community out of poverty”, I was referring to a set of proactive steps specifically aimed at improving a community. Such steps don’t work. Communities come out of their situation not overnight, but over a long period of time. That is what I said.

Thanks for your support.

Sachar Report is a very important one. But in India, poverty and backwardness knows no religion. For a “secular” state to say, let me give preferential treatment to Indians who pray to Mecca, would be denying the same justice to poor people who don’t pray looking at Mecca. Opportunities should be available irrespective of your religious beliefs and not based on vote banks isn’t it?

1. I disagree with those who think that Indian society’s treatment to its Muslim minority is responsible for the terrorist attacks. But the analogy you’ve put forward is not quite right. Muslim rule (over major parts of India) ended two centuries ago. Retributions for something that happened centuries ago can not be equated with reactions or revenge to currently existing subjugation (if we assume it exists, that is).
2. Man, this comment of yours have Hitler’s interpretation of social Darwinism (i.e. the roots of Nazi ideology) written all over it.

1. Blaming terrorist attack on Muslim poverty or any attack on Muslims, is no different from blaming Gujarat riots on atrocities of Muslim rulers over centuries. Why should one of these be “evil” and the other “matter of fact”?

2. It is very difficult, if not impossible to “lift” a community out of poverty. Inspite of the US being so advanced, blacks are still quite distant from being anywhere near as well-off as whites, and that is NOT because of racism at all. One can only expect such things to happen over a long period of time, during which these communities may actually mix with each other through marriage.

Regarding the often discussed poverty of Muslims — would love to hear your thoughts on Sachar Committee Report.

SUPERB.

Should be required reading for all foreign commentators.

Thanks.