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Dear Friend 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. This is just for your INFO and record. We would appreciate if you communicate. Thanks Digant Oza B-1, Neeldeep Appt., Opp. Sandesh Press, Laad Society Road, Vastrapur. Ahmedabad-380015, Sheeba George, Professor Nisar Ansari, Digant Oza, Victor Moses C/O St. Xaviers Social Service Society Post Box: 4088 Navrangpura Ahmedabad 380 009 Gujarat 24th September 2004 Hon. Tarlochan Sing Chairman National Commission for Minority 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 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 NCC while conducting the meeting. NCM 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 and NCM have not been implemented by the State Government. It was shocking to note that the credibility of NCM was subjected to question. Some of the speakers even suggested introspection for NCM because as said on the floor of the meeting some of the minority organizations preferred to stay away from the meeting. The NCM 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 Sonis 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. NCM allowed him to do so despite the persistent protest on the floor. Justice Soni was unnecessarily tracing back to the case of Sha Banu, which was obvious attempt to trigger of controversy. NCM 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 NCM 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?! (here we cannot even speak up against injustice) There have been lot of promises from NCM 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 NCM. 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 NCM 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 NCM 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 NCM 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 NCM to set-up a commission for eradication of illiteracy among the minorities. We were also happy to note that NCM 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 NCM in his press conference was asked about the noise inside the conference hall, if that was timely heard, the credibility of NCM would not have been at the peril!!! Yours Sincerely FATHER VICTOR MOSES KRISHNAKANT VAKHARIA PROF. NISAR ANSARI SHEEBA GEORGE DIGANT OZA AHMED SHAIKH INDUKUMAR JANI S.H. HAKIMJI S.T. SAFRI K.A. CHHATRIWALA S.F. MANSAWALA |
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| << October15, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net]Debate: Reservation in Private Sector |
October17, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net] Attack on nuns,conversion & superstition watch >> |
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