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From: rege@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Ashutosh Rege)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: An Independent Sikh State
Message-ID: <514@zen.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: Thu, 9-Oct-86 05:46:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: zen.514
Posted: Thu Oct  9 05:46:43 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Oct-86 04:27:20 EDT
Sender: news@zen.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: rege@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Ashutosh Rege)
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
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	Apropos the recent debate spurred by Mr. Martillo's comments, 
may I add my two bits worth? First of all, I fail to see what Mr. Martillo
is driving at. Granted the world of fantasy and idealism, why is it so
difficult to keep in mind the world of real-politik. Mere ranting and raving
is not going to make valid theses. Does Mr. Martillo suggest that the Indian
Govt. should accede to the demands of the separatist movements. If so, what
cogent reasons are there for the Govt. to do so ? It certainly will not act
on Mr. Martillo's behest. 

	Does Mr. Martillo object to the Indian Govts. support of the 
Palestinian movement ? From the Indian Govts.' point of view there is very
little utility in doing otherwise. India needs the Arab oil and the political
parties need the Muslim vote. If there was a powerful Jewish lobby in India
as in this country, the govt. would have supported Israel. This is what ALL
govts. do. Surely Mr. Martillo is not so naive to be ignorant of that.
	
	Finally, from a strictly utility-theoretic point of view, it is
does not make much sense for the majority of Indians to support seccessionist
movements, since they do not (most of the time) lead to any improvement in
their standard of living/distibution of wealth/decentralisation of power etc.
To that end, I think it would be highly improbable that there would be any 
split in India as a geo-political entity, inspite of the good wishes of certain
people. Most Indians, I am sure are aware of the considerable freedom they 
enjoy vis-a-vis several neighbouring and other states.

P.S. I am assuming that Yakim Martillo is male. No sexism intended,if otherwise