PASSAGE 3 (Questions 1-5)

The major ground for rejecting the fusion of political and communal aspirations seems to be the physical dangers to which this exposes the citizens of a country unlike political appeals to class factors, political appeals to communal questions are much more concrete, precise and emotion charged since they involve intimate and personal sentiments. The language issue, for instance, can never be an abstract issue to any citizen in a country relative, say, to the issue of social welfare, poverty eradication, or expansion of educational opportunities.

Politicians in their quest for power can escalate such emotions to a frenzy of ill feeling among the communities. Moreover, members of communal groups and their neighbourhoods are easily identifiable and can become easy targets of attack. The norms of civilised governments cannot allow the rioting, looting and killing, which is a normal consequence of communalism which seeks power. Hence, in one way or other a lid is sought to be put on communal politics.

However, it would be well for political leaders, public administrators and researchers to recognise community based political aspirations for what they are rather than to merely condemn them with value loaded judgement. Clearly it is sufficient for civilised governments to reject communal politics on grounds of the danger to which it exposes the communities which constitute the nation. Efficient policy decision can be formulated only on the basis of a clear recognition of issues. 

[United India Insurance CO (AAO), 2002]

"Fusion of political and communal aspirations" implies