MP Muslim Vikas Parishad against Minorities Bill

Bhopal, July 12 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh Muslim Vikas Parishad today submitted a memorandum to Governor Balram Jakhar here in protest against the Centre's Minorities Constitution (Amendment) Bill to be introduced during Parliament's Monsoon Session.

''The Bill will prove a blow to minorities' interests. It will render articles 25-30 meaningless and the Sachar Committee Report will lose importance. The Sachar Committee took stock of Muslims' economic, educational and social status at national level not on statewide basis,'' said Parishad President Sanatullah Siddiqui.

Pointing out that Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Zoroastrians comprised about 20 per cent of the country's population, he added that the Bill, if enacted, would snatch minorities' rights.

''Several complexities will emerge if Punjab's Sikhs, the North-East's Christians and Kashmir's Muslims are considered the majority community in the respective regions. We would like to know from the Government why the Sachar Report is not being tabled in Parliament despite an assurance from the Prime Minister. We demand that every recommendation of the Committee be accepted,'' Mr Siddiqui added.

UNI