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From: "CHROkeralam" <chro1@rediffmail.com> Date: Thu Sep 30, 2004 GUJARAT WATCH: Open Letter To National Minority Commission 1) SACW, September 30, 2004, Thursday Gujarat: Open Letter to National Minority Commission National Minority commission had invited "Opinion Makers" of Gujarat for an inter-community meet. Same evening chairman and Members of the commission addressed a media meet. It was total contradictory to what was really deliberated in the meet. Some Muslim organization and individuals kept away from the meet, putting question Mark before the role of NMC in Gujarat. Some of the 45 participants have addressed a letter to NMC, copy of which is being of forwarded to you. Dr. Hanif Lakdawala, Shri Yaswant shah (Editor : Jai Hind), Prof. Anil Gupta, Bishop of Gujarat etc. might have signed if they were NOT out of Ahmedabad. Digant Oza B-1, Neeldeep Appt., Opp. Sandesh Press, Laad Society Road, Vastrapur. Ahmedabad-380015, o o o Sheeba George, Professor Nisar Ansari, Digant Oza, Victor Moses C/O St. Xavier's Social Service Society Post Box: 4088 Navrangpura Ahmedabad - 380 009 Gujarat ----------------------------------------------------------- 24th September 2004 Hon. Tarlochan Sing[h] Chairman - National Commission for Minorit[ies] R.A.. Sherwani Lt. Gen (Rtd.) A.M. Sethna VV. Augustine Member Secretary Dev Swaroop New Delhi - 110 003 Dear Sir We appreciate the pronounced intention of NMC [read NCM] to organize the "Inter Community Meeting" for strengthening and streamlining the atmosphere of communal amity and brotherhood in Gujarat. It was a good initiative provided the spirit was maintained by NMC while conducting the meeting. NMC had stated that the idea is to bring people on one platform to discuss issues of communal harmony and deliberate on ways to avoid communal clashes. But the as popular proverb says if Truth had prevailed harmony would have triumphed, however, the truth was the first victim in the 23rd September meeting. The tone and atmosphere of the discussion on the floor was far from the objectives set for the meeting. We are also shocked to see the reports in the print media of the press conference where none of the issues raised on the floor had been highlighted by the honourable members of the Commission. Moreover, the commission seems to have all praises for the prevailing communal atmosphere in the state, with which the undersigned do not agree. The so-called efforts by the State Government for the amity had been mentioned by the Chairman in the media-meet, which, also far far away from truth. In fact, many of the suggestions not only by the civil society but also by the NHRC [National Human Rights Commission] and NMC have not been implemented by the State Government. It was shocking to note that the credibility of NMC was subjected to question. Some of the speakers even suggested introspection for NMC because as said on the floor of the meeting some of the minority organizations preferred to stay away from the meeting. The NMC did not confirm or contradict this statement. We would like to bring on record the following points which came up on the floor but conspicuous by its absence in the media-conference. ?· What was the basis on which people were invited? The presence of Justice Soni was therefore made highly debatable. Some of the speakers even objected to Justice Soni's participation. But the Chairperson overruled it. Justice Soni had openly spoken against the directive of the Supreme Court to reopen the closed cases. On the basis of 1961 Gujarat Government resolution, Justice Soni was speaking in a language which did not mean to bring harmony. NMC allowed him to do so despite the persistent protest on the floor. ?· Justice Soni was unnecessarily tracing back to the case of Sha[h] Banu, which was obvious attempt to trigger of controversy. ?· NMC was not the platform to have allowed the use of word 'appeasement'. It was not called for. The honourable members of the Commission neither stopped him nor NMC seriously objected to the use of the word. Some of the political minded groups even accused the formation of National Minority Commission, as an attempt to appease the minority - are we to allow it? ?· The freedom of expression was also brought up on the floor. The honourable members were briefed as to how, when socially concerned citizens and civil society tried to highlight the truth, they were labeled as 'psudo-secularists' and 'anti-Gujarat' and their patriotism was put to question. One of the speakers even went to say, "hum yahan annyaya ei khilaf chilla bhi nahi sakte?!" ?· There have been lot of promises from NMC but no corresponding fulfillment. Some of the groups, which did not attend the meeting, went up to accusing that their memorandum was not even replied. In this context, some of the invited speakers also expressed their dissatisfaction and suspicion that prevail among the civil society of Gujarat regarding the role of NMC. ?· To instill confidence in the cultural group of Gujarat what was required was concrete action. Therefore, it was suggested in the meeting that the tomb of Poet Vali Gujarati be reconstructed. He was the symbol of cultured and harmonious Gujarat. ?· The presence of Gopal Bhojvani (as he himself mentioned two times MLA of BJP)? He went to the extent of describing Godhra as "Mini-Pakistan". Does the NMC have the same view and endorse this atrocious statement? There was serious objection on the floor. Some of the 45 participants even preferred to walk out from the meeting amongst the noisy protest. But NMC chose to coolly listen to him instead of sharply reacting. ?· Some members on the floor also pointed out to the fact that on the one hand polarization /ghetoisation has been taking place in Gujarat in Gujarat and Ahmedabd particular while on the other hand hundreds of families were forced to still stay out of their houses. Such a ghetoisation (Muslim free zone of Ahmedabad!) was by accident or design? It was recommended that the Commission initiate a scholarly study/research on this, as a link aimed by the Commission. It was also recommended that affirmative action be initiated where encouragement is given to the developers who consciously promote co-habitation of diverse communities. ?· The pitiful living condition of people in the 'colonies' rehabilitated by civil society does not have the basic amenities, which is the responsibility of the State. This was mentioned during the discussion but MNC did not positively react. ?· The rehabilitation policy and package of the Government for the affected people of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam was recommended to be implemented for the victims of the carnage also. ?· The cases of several villages where people are still not able to go back were also raised on the floor. In some of the villages the minority community compelled to abide by the rules and regulation as dictated by the majority community, which is a gross violation of the fundamentals values of secularism, democracy and Human Rights. ?· There was lot of discussion on the need of education for the minority community. However, a particular set of people who are 'educating' the masses against the minority communities through an ongoing campaign by means such as pamphlets, slogans and rumours and also the textbooks. The commission was asked if they could condemn such a mentality and take active steps to stop such anti-minority hate-campaign, which vitiates the atmosphere of harmony. We are happy to note, as the only saving grace, at least one of the several suggestions came up on the floor has been highlighted, namely a documentation of the positive stories in which people had transcended the religious boundaries to save people of other religion from the carnage at the cost of their own lives. We are also glad that NMC is planning to set up an advisory committee in Gujarat. It is indeed a welcome move. However, the selection of members for such committee has to be carefully identified. We also appreciate the recommendation of NMC to set-up a commission for eradication of illiteracy among the minorities. We were also happy to note that NMC was prepared to help the minority groups, which wanted to form educational institutes or expand the existing one, were finding it difficult to implement their decisions, because of lack of co-operation from the State Government. And lastly, the chairman of NMC in his press conference was asked about the noise inside the conference hall, if that was timely heard, the credibility of NMC would not have been at the peril!!! Yours Sincerely FR. VICTOR MOSES KRISHNAKANT VAKHARIA PROF. NISAR ANSARI SEEBA GEORGE DIGANT OZA AHMED SHAIKH INDUKUMAR JANI S.H. HAKIMJI S.T. SAFRI K.A. CHHATRIWALA S.F. MANSAWALA [& others] ---------------------------------------------- 2) Times of India, September 30, 2004, Thursday In Modi's Gujarat, Hitler is a textbook hero HARIT MEHTA AHMEDABAD: Gandhi is not so great, but Hitler is. Welcome to high school education in Narendra Modi's Gujarat, where authors of social studies textbooks published by the Gujarat State Board of School Textbooks have found faults with the freedom movement and glorified Fascism and Nazism. While a Class VIII student is taught 'negative aspects' of Gandhi's non-cooperation movement, the Class X social studies textbook has chapters on 'Hitler, the Supremo' and 'Internal Achievements of Nazism'. The Class X book presents a frighteningly uncritical picture of Fascism and Nazism. The strong national pride that both these phenomena generated, the efficiency in the bureaucracy and the administration and other 'achievements' are detailed, but pogroms against Jews and atrocities against trade unionists, migrant labourers, and any section of people who did not fit into Mussolini or Hitler's definition of rightful citizen don't find any mention." They committed the gruesome and inhuman act of suffocating 60 lakh Jews in gas chambers" is all the book, authored by a panel, mentions of the holocaust. The section on 'Ideology of Nazism' reads: "Hitler lent dignity and prestige to the German government within a short time by establishing a strong administrative set up. He created the vast state of Greater Germany. He adopted the policy of opposition towards the Jewish people and advocated the supremacy of the German race. He adopted a new economic policy and brought prosperity to Germany. He began efforts for the eradication of unemployment. He started constructing public buildings, providing irrigation facilities, building railways, roads and production of war materials. He made untiring efforts to make Germany self-reliant within one decade. Hitler discarded the Treaty of Versailles by calling it just 'a piece of paper' and stopped paying the war penalty. He instilled the spirit of adventure in the common people". A few classes junior, students in Gandhi's home state read that the Bapu really may have been overrated. In the chapter on 'Gandhian Era and National Movement', there's a section sub-headlined 'The Negative Aspect'. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-868469,curpg-1.cms Confederation of Human Rights Organizations (CHRO) 3, Rams' Cottage Ambalathumukku Pettah Thiruvananthapuram-695024 Kerala South India Ph.: 0471-2476262 www.humanrightsindia.com www.humanrightskerala.com |
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September30, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net]Apunba Lup justifies banning Hindi, NCC >> |
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