Tough and impartial national exam

The article by S.N.M. Abdi headlined 'Muslim anger at exclusion from top government jobs' (South China Morning Post, October 21) contained many points that can be strongly refuted. However, I will concentrate on just a few.

Jobs in the Indian Administrative and Police services are not controlled by the government of the day. Decisions on jobs are made by an autonomous body called the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The selections are based on an extremely tough and competitive national examination, the impartiality of which has never been questioned. The UPSC also conducts exams for entry-level positions for officers in the Indian armed forces.

I take issue with the assertion that recruitment of Muslims in various organisations has 'virtually stopped' since the 'Bharatiya Janata Party came to power'. Mr Abdi is looking for ghosts where they do not exist. These recruitment procedures, established over decades, have been transparent.

As for the so-called under-representation of Muslims in various walks of life, I would like to point out a few facts.

India has had three Muslims as president of the country. Muslims have held the highest posts in the legislature and executive (speakers of houses of parliament, chief ministers in various states), in the judiciary and the civil service.

They have been senior cabinet ministers, including positions where they were in charge of internal security and intelligence operations. And they have been successful in many other walks of life too numerous to mention.

India's richest man, by the way, is also a Muslim, not because of or despite his religion, but because he is an outstanding Indian entrepreneur.