India, April 28 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a fantastic statement at Hisar in Haryana. He said that if all the Waqf land had been properly used, Muslim boys would not have to make a living by fixing punctures in tyres. The inference is that with the amendment his government made in the Waqf law, the condition of Muslims is set to undergo a metamorphosis. They will no longer have to do such menial jobs to make a living.

My first impulse was to tell the Prime Minister that he should not ridicule a whole community in this manner. Instead, I would rather ask him: What is wrong with fixing punctures? If punctures are not fixed properly, there can be accidents. So, their services are crucial. In fact, no job is menial. What is condemn...