Gujarat Christians appeal HC to take strict action against authorities for continuing survey of minorities for last 8 yrs.

 By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal : The All India Christian Council, (AICC), which filed two Writ-Petitions in 1999 and 2001 opposing the collection of information about minorities in Gujarat, has appealed to the Gujarat High Court to take strict action against the concerned authorities because for the last 8 years the Census (survey) of minority communities is continuing.
   
Samson C. Christian, National Executive Member & General Secretary of the AICC, said:“We appealed to the Honourable High Court to take strict actions against relevant authorities because, for 8 years the Census (survey) is continuing for minority communities. In different ways, the government authorities are collecting information secretly. Since this kind of Census is related to election to the state legislative assemblies which is due shortly in Gujarat, we have asked the court to take necessary actions to stop the said Census of minority Christian community.� .
   
In a Press release issued through e-mail today from Ahmedabad, Samson Christian said that the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-6, Ahmedabad City, has started to receive the information of organizations of Christian community, religious places and private organizations under the garb of vital information. The AICC approached the Gujarat High Court opposing this as a sequel Justice Akshay H. Mehta of the court taking cognizance of the matter issued notices on July 2.     
   
The notices have been issued to Union Minister.Ramvilas Paswan, the Home Secretary to the Government of India and Secretary General of the Lok Sabha. The High Court has fixed July 17 as the next date for further hearing in the case.
   
It  may mentioned here that Paswan had faced severe opposition from the Gujarat Government due to his support for the minorities. The Home Minister of Gujarat State Amit Shah had reportedly said in the state Assembly that Paswan has made the reference as per Rule-184, so demanding the Dalits. To this Paswan had strongly objected saying the Home Minister has made a false statement against him to spoil his reputation. He has served a notice to Home Minister Amit Shah for "Contempt of Special Rights". . 
   
Meanwhile, the release said Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), ruled Gujarat Government is using a policy of  malice towards the Christian community. It said that Judge M. R. Kella had taken serious note of a Suo Moto Writ-Petition on February 16, 1999 regarding the news published on February 6, 1999 in the ‘Asian Age’ newspaper under the heading “Gujarat orders Census on Christians�.
   
The Director General of Gujarat Police (Intelligence Branch), Bhattacharya had filed an affidavit then in the court on the same matter saying that if any information regarding the survey of minority community are published, they will take action. After receiving this assurance, the Gujarat High Court had withdrawn Special Civil Application No. 1000/1999, the release said.
   
However, the Government of Gujarat started again to misuse the Census of minorities in 2001, so the AICC filed Special Civil Application No. 11005/2001 to stop the actions. Then, again in 2003, the Census (survey) was started of the Christian community, so the AICC filed Special Civil Application No. 2666/2003 and Special Civil Application No. 7200/2003 in the  Gujarat High Court. The Government of Gujarat then gave written assurance to the National Commission For Minorities, New Delhi, and said if the Census (survey) will be challenged, they will lodge police case against it.
   
“Unfortunately, written assurances of the Gujarat State Government are only on paper and, from history, we are sad to report that it will not take in action when a crisis comes,� lamented Samson Christian.     
    
It may be pointed out here that the AICC (www.aiccindia.org), came into existence in 1998 to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The AICC is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders, the release added. ([email protected])

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