Council for constitution of Commission for minorities

Shimla, June 20 (UNI) An NGO today sought directions from the Centre to the states for the mandatory constitution of Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities since atrocities on the minorities were going unchecked.

Addressing mediapersons here, chairman of the All India Minorities and Social Welfare Council Rajeshwar Singh Negi said various committees set up by the successive governments in the country did not provide any concrete and viable solution to protect the rights of the minorities.

He said the recommendations of Sachar Committee, the Prime Minister's high level committee for the preparation of report on social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community in India, had recommended reservations based on religion, which had created confusion.

Even the Moily Committee, which had been given the task of preparing a roadmap for implementing quota for OBCs in central educational institutions, focused on the problems of the minorities including their educational backwardness, he said.

Mr Negi said the report dealt mainly with the problems faced by the Muslims in the country.

''The atrocities on the minorities do not have any relationship with educational or economic backwardness of any community nor are they confined to Muslims,'' he said.

He said the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, 2002 Gujarat riots, demolition of Babri Masjid, Bombay riots, burning of Graham Stains, forced exile of MF Hussain, monopoly and the control of Brahmins on Mahabodhi temple at Bodhgaya were such examples.

The Council had made a representation to the Prime Minister and urged him to ensure that the state commissions be chaired by persons of eminence having expertise in minority affairs, he said.

He said the present situation was akin to a historian heading the law commission and a jurist chairing an archeology project.

All such commissions, including the National Commission should be empowered to inquire, investigate, evaluate and monitor the constitutional and legal rights of the minorities and recommend prosecution and compensation to the victims of atrocities, he added.

UNI