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New Delhi: The three-day 14th
International conference organised by the well-known think tank
Institute of Objective Studies, (IOS), on “Minority Rights and
Identities: Challenges and Prospects in an Unfolding Global
Scenario” here at the Constitutional Club of India concluded on
Sunday last concluded with the consensus that in the Indian
Constitution and the laws framed in the light of this grant rights
to the minorities in all respects.
However, the ground reality is that in day to day life of the
minorities, specially Muslim community, these rights granted by
the Constitution remain a far cry and are not available to the
Muslims, who feel cheated and are left high and dry. This not only
leads to frustration in minorities but violation of the
Constitution and the laws enacted therein also takes place.
Hence, it was felt it is utmost necessary that a law be framed
that can be used against those responsible officials who in case
do not comply and implement in letter and spirit the government’s
decisions and policies for minorities formulated in the light of
Indian Constitution and the existing laws and rules. Then only the
minorities and other marginalised persons will be able to enjoy
the fruits of development as other citizens of India.
Meanwhile, delivering the valedictory address at the end of the
three-day conference K. Rahman Khan, Rajya Sabha member,
requested IOS to dedicate the next 25 years after the silver
jubilee celebrations as to what the Muslim community has to
achieve priority wise through collective wisdom. The roadmap has
also to be defined as to what will be the community’s role and
contribution in India’s development. To attain this through
collective wisdom first the community will have to sort out its
differences by working within.
Rahman Khan lamented that the Muslim community has not done
its job of what it should it get, what are its priorities and what
is the roadmap of future. This job the government of the day
cannot do for the community but it should be the collective wisdom
of the community to do it.
“We are ourselves divided in views be it political, religious or
social leadership. We are divided due to ego problem as no one is
ready to sacrifice it”, he moaned.
Presiding over the valedictory function Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam,
chairman of IOS who is devoted, dedicated and dignified
personality, in his concluding remarks appealed Rahman Khan
and Zafaryab Jilani, Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh,
to convey to the powers that be the hurt and painful feelings of
the Muslim community about the illegal arrests of their innocent
youths over trumped up terrorism charges and atrocities of police
on them. He urged them to use their good offices to provide
succour to the affected families in getting their wards released
and end their woes.
Dr. Alam announced the formation of “Foundation for Education” by
IOS for the poor, who have been deprived of education, on the
occasion with an appeal to all and sundry to make contributions of
minimum Rs.5 per month so as to create funds for the noble cause.
A 10-point resolution was adopted by voice vote during the
valedictory function. The resolutions are: 1. A special committee
may be constituted to draw future plan of actions based on
carrying out the resolutions adopted in Silver Jubilee
celebrations’ conferences and achieving basic objectives of
creating synergy for security and welfare of marginalised sections
in general and Muslims in particular; 2. There should be a special
drive to involve regional chapters of the IOS to study regional
aspirations and adopt correct methodology for redressal of
grievances at regional and national level; 3. The IOS in
consultation with all concerned should evolve a comprehensive
blue-print for minority welfare in India in coming ten years with
special reference to globalisation process; 4. A committee of
experts may be constituted to suggest measures for publicizing the
understanding of Indian political and economic systems so that the
Muslims are aware of all such processes including the electoral
strategies; 5. The IOS should take necessary steps to evaluate
various commissions/committees’ report and suggest measures for
their implementation; 6. The IOS should constitute a specialised
expert committee to suggest means to draw the attention of
corporate sectors to minority potential, heritage and role in
development; 7. It is pertinent to reiterate and reinvigorate the
need to have links of IOS with other institutions and
organizations to push the agenda forward. The issues of research
and survey should form the priority sectors of the policies and
prgrammes; 8. It is urgently needed to go for establishing legal
aid cells to promote legal aid through spreading awareness among
all sections of society and providing necessary relief to victims,
if possible. The innocent Muslim youth, who are charge-sheeted
must be tried on day to day basis; 9. The IOS should coordinate
with agencies concerning Muslim’s affairs in areas of awqaf
properties in India. This sector needs urgent attention & 10. It
is felt that along with other measures, the recommendations of
Sachar Committee and the Rangnath Mishra Committee’s reports
should be evaluated and monitored from the point of view of their
implementation and impact.
Earlier, Salman Khurshid, Union Minister for Law & Minorities
Affairs, speaking after the special lecture of Dr. Abusaleh
Shariff, president, Centre for Research and Debates in Development
Policy, New Delhi, on “Post-Sachar Report: An Appraisal” said not
only the proposal of Equal Opportunities Commission but there are
many other issues on which there is no consensus in the whole
country or Muslim community. So, it is necessary that first there
should be consensus on any issue. As far as Equal Opportunities
Commission is concerned its formation is possible but the Muslim
community should first collectively agree over the proposal.
Khurshid said that he is in total agreement with the view of a
section of the society that in a country like India there is no
need at all for the Ministry of Minorities Affairs. This ministry
in fact is Ministry of Coordination. The problems of minorities or
Muslims cannot be solved alone by the Ministry of Minorities
Affairs but for this departments of various ministries have to be
involved, he explained.
He said that reservation of 4.5 per cent given to minorities under
OBC quota does not mean that they would not get under other
provisions. He pointed out that in nine and ten states of the
country minorities have been given reservation under sub-category
as such they have been given this 4.5 per cent reservation under
this sub-category. This is half of 8.44 per cent, he added.
Dr. Abusaleh Shariff, who is also chief economist, National
Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi, while making a
Power Point presentation on “Five Years After Sachar Report
2004-05 to 2009-10” said the report has 14 chapters of which many
chapters have not been debated and analysed.
Dr. Shariff said there exists a very wrong general perception
about Sachar Committee Report that it has been prepared keeping in
mind only the state of affairs of Muslims and their problems.
However, the truth is that the report has been prepared while
comparing position of Muslims with other religious communities and
groups. So, it is better not to call the report of any particular
community but term it as a “Relative Report”. He candidly said
that India can become an eminent nation only when every citizen of
the country is given equal opportunity.
Meanwhile, Dr. Arshi Khan, Associate Professor of Political
Science & the Director of the Centre for the Promotion of
Educational and Cultural Advancement of Muslims of India, AMU,
Aligarh, spoke on redefining Minority Rights in India as the
constitutional provisions like Article 29 and 30 are only meant
for cultural and educational rights whereas these rights have
proved to be inapplicable due to the enabling factors like
political safeguards.
Dr. Arshi said that India is a plural society where democracy is
not limited to merely elections and majority rule but the test of
democracy rests with the ability of the government and the State
to protect the interests of minorities. Muslims minority is a
cultural and religious community and its culture is not the basis
of political culture of India or the basis of the State. Merely
existence of minority in numbers do not qualify a country to claim
democracy but how far this largest minority feels to be the part
of the State is the most important aspect.
He said that there are scores of violence, incidents,
discriminations, violations of human rights and character
assassination of the members of the Muslim community in the
country which have not been even partially addressed by the
successive governments in the last 60 years. There is a need for
the recognition of the fact that Muslims have equal political
rights but the enforcement agencies and political elite including
many civil societies have not treated them as equal citizens.
Therefore, there is a need to view such matters seriously and to
take corrective measures to make India a vibrant country in the
world, he emphasized.
(pervezbari@eth.net)
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