Minorities demand basic right to live with dignity

Ahmedabad, Feb 1 (UNI) Nearly five years after the 2002 Gujarat riots, thousands of internally displaced people of the State congregated here today to voice their concern about the state government's failure to protect their lives, property and guarantee a safe return to their original place of residence.

The convention was organised by Aantark Visthapit Hak Rakshak Samiti to air their views in front of a four-member panel consisting of Planning Commission Member Syeda Hameed, National Minority Commission Member Dilip Padgaonkar, former (Retd) Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court Justice R A Mehta, NHRC Special Repporteur P G J Nampoothiri.

The aggrieved families, living in makeshift colonies constructed by NGO's and community organisatins demanded that they be provided with basic amenities and livelihood in rehabilitation colonies, a special economic package for rehabilitation of internally displaced Muslim families in Gujarat by the Central government and a national policy on people displaced internally due to violence.

Nearly 5,000 families living in 69 colonies in various districts of the state have requested the panelists to take up their matter with the Central Government and highlight their sufferings to them.

They demanded they be treated equally and at par with other citizens of the country.

In the 2002 Gujarat riots, over 1,000 people died, thousands were displaced and property worth several crores destroyed.

UNI