David Cameron's nailing an absolute majority is undoubtedly the headline of the general election. Not far behind, though, is the seismic change in the Scottish contingent in the House of Commons - an unimaginable 56 Scottish National Party (SNP) MPs out of a total of 59 from Scotland!
Scotland is important in that there is a sizeable Pakistani community in the Glasgow area. But other South Asians there are few and far between. The Pakistanis are, in fact, divided on the issue of Scottish independence, with a significant section of conventionally Labour supporters now breaking away to attach their allegiance to the SNP.
Morally, the SNP have a case to uphold their election manifesto pledges. But mathematically - and constitutionally - they can do little to impose their will on Westminster.
David Cameron will undoubtedly have to deliver what was agreed between the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats by way of further devolution of powers to the Scottish government. A Downing Street source was quoted as saying: "He (Cameron) feels he's been very clear that he wants to deliver what he has promised."
The SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, however, may demand greater autonomy and if denied, threaten to hold another referendum on independence.
If Sturgeon insists on full fiscal powers and this leads to a confrontation, Cameron could grant this, but terminate the Barnett formula, by virtue of which Scotland receives greater public expenditure than England. An extra £1,623 per head, or 19 per cent, is given to Scotland compared to England.
The campaign for a separate Scotland is more about an enhanced welfare state than an emotional or ethnic stance. It is about the SNP wanting an end to austerity and a resumption of greater state expenditure. It is, in fact, a clash of ideologies and ideas.
So, where should South Asians stand on this fractious debate? The "Yes" lobby lost the plebiscite last year; and that should have closed the chapter. But it hasn't because the SNP are experiencing a sympathy wave after they lost the referendum; added to this is their populism, which has succeeded in swaying working classes, and a collapse of Labour as an appealing alternative.
The SNP's stance on public spending in the current economic climate is arguably unaffordable and unsustainable. Certainly Scotland doesn't have the resources to underwrite it.
There is strength in unity. For Scotland to venture into its own is an avoidable risk. Among other hazards, there is no guarantee that it will secure membership of the EU if it does.
So does the South Asian community in Scotland have anything to gain from an independent Scotland? One should think long and hard before jeopardising one's future.
