Representatives of different faiths and various civil society groups and activists participated to express their concern
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Perturbed on the exponential increase of attacks on religious minorities in recent times and continuous denial of their due rights, various civil society groups and activists belonging to Muslim, Christian and Sikh communities met on Saturday and decided to work together to take on rising extremism in the country and to protect minorities from the intended harms.
At the Convention on Minority Rights, organized by the Popular Front of India at Indian Social Institute, leaders of minorities and representatives of civil society accented the need to build a broad based alliance among individuals and groups who are concerned with civil rights and minority rights.
In the forenoon session, a round table discussion was held among the representatives of civil society organizations and different minorities. The session was moderated by advocate KP Mohammad Shareef the secretary of National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations (NCHRO) whereas a public program was held in the afternoon session presided by the chairman of the host organization KM Sharif.
Mufti Mukarram addressing the gathering
Dr John Dayal, a renowned Christian leader, stressed that minorities should strengthen the civil society for reclaiming their rights as well as for strengthening the constitutional system of the country.
Professor Mohinderpal Singh the general secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) traced back the atrocities on minorities since 1947 and emphasized that a time had come when the leaders of minorities should unite and work together for making India a country of justice and equality in real sense of the terms.
Dr Zafarul Islam Khan, the president of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, suggested that an inter-minority platform should be formed supported by a secretariat to undertake issues on regular basis.
The president of Social Democratic Party of India A. Sayeed elaborated upon the woes faced by different sections of minorities and seconded the idea of stronger cooperation of minority groups with each other.
The secretary Citizens for Democracy advocate ND Pancholi while referring to the flaws of judicial process in Hashimpura-Maliyana case agreed that civil rights organizations and leaders of minorities should converge so that our Constitution could be saved from any abuse and minorities could lead a peaceful and dignified life.
Minority Rights Convention panel discussion
Other dignitaries present at the programme, who expressed their concerns included Former chairman of the Front, EM Abdur Rahiman; Abdul Rashid Agwan Delhi state president of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat; Raghavan Srinivasa the president of Lokraj Sanghathan; Dr Arshi Khan of Aligarh Muslim University; Advocate Mushtaq Ahmad; Dr Hasina Hashiya of Jamia Millia Islamia; Dr Mufti Mukarram; Kamal Farooqi former chairman Delhi Minority Commission, dvocate Mahamood Pracha, and Advocate Franklin.
Justice Rajinder Sachar was to address the convention as the chief guest but due to illness he could not join it but his message for the convention was readout.
At the end of the convention, a committee was formed based on nine members to further take up the mission for the development of a functional alliance of civil rights and minority groups.
Latter a resolution was passed at the end of the programme that emphasised on the rise of communal tensions. “We felt that the process of dialogue among the affected sections should go on especially for creating wider awareness against violation of constitutional and civil rights and atrocities on minorities. We also feel that formation of a strong social alliance among minorities is the call of the hour,” It added.