Raising questions over the plight of minorities in poll-bound West Bengal despite political stability, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said recently released data indicated that their living conditions were "extremely inadequate".
Jaitley said the model followed by the state where growth levels were not fast enough to raise standards of all sections could be a factor for the condition of the minorities.
The Finance Minister, who was delivering a lecture organised by National Commission of Minorities(NCM) on 'Economic Empowerment of Minorities', said that post 1991, India witnessed a faster growth which also led to substantial reduction in poverty.
As he spoke about the role of economic growth in empowerment, the Finance Minister referred to a report 'Living realities of Muslims in West Bengal' released recently in Kolkata by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen.
Referring to the data related to the minority community in West Bengal, Jaitley said that it indicated "living conditions which are extremely inadequate."
"Why is it that in a state like West Bengal, which has otherwise seen political stability since independence and has a sizeable minority population have data which indicates living conditions which are far less than adequate?," he asked.
"One of the reasons that struck my mind is that is it in terms of growth of economy, the state followed a model, where growth levels were not fast enough and I think it is a question which should be discussed," Jaitley said.
He said that post 1991, when in most parts, economic conditions improved, but a report on West Bengal comes with such findings. When there is high growth, Jaitley said all sections benefit, though some more than others and government can provide "targetted assistance" to all those left out.
The report released by Sen suggested that "Muslims in West Bengal are economically more deprived than others".
Jaitley also said the country experiences "policy diversions" from time to time, but maturity would be to ignore them and move towards growth in a "harmonious" way.
According to Jaitley, the "judge's view is final, it is
not necessary that it is infallible".
"If we are to maintain an element of statesmanship and some account of vision, I think there cannot be any guidelines as to who has to exercise which functions. It has to be a self imposed discipline and a self imposed 'Lakshman rekha' which all institutions like the Legislature, Judiciary and the Executive will have to impose.
"I do hope that resilience of Indian society and Indian democracy has enough strength in it that notwithstanding differences of opinion, we will in the long run be able to maintain it," he said.
Jaitley recalled how the judiciary changed from the 1950s and 1960s when it supported the government, but later turned assertive and sometimes even went beyond its domain.
"There was a tendency to cross the Lakshman Rekha and when you cross the Lakshman Rekha you get into functions which belong to the Executive or the Legislature," he said, recalling
the past events.
"Once this tendency picks up, then it creates an impression that one institution is in separation of powers is superior to the other other institution and therefore, a superior institution can take a better decision than the other parallel institution," he said.
Jaitley observed that in the last few decades, the country has moved from a cooperative federalism to a competitive federalism. Accordingly, he stressed the need for caution on the part of the three organs.
He said the Constitutionally mandated separation of powers among the three organs of the state has played a vital role in preserving democracy in India.
The Finance Minister said the system of checks and balances has ensured that they function well within their respective domains and do not usurp the essential functions of the other organs.
He emphasised that the lack of balance can upset the theory of separation of power. As such, he said that Judiciary cannot become Executive/Legislature or vice versa.
Earlier, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan inaugurated the workshop on 'Constitution of India' in the Parliament Library Building, organised by Speaker's Research Initiative (SRI) of Lok Sabha Secretariat.
Mahajan, in her remarks, said the purpose of the workshop is to enable the MPs, the public representatives to have a better understanding of the Constitution.
