By TCN News,
Aligarh: The Department of Political Science, Aligarh Muslim University organized a Panel Discussion on the Rights of Minorities in the Seminar Library to commemorate the International Minority Rights Day.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. A. R. Vijapur presented an analytical survey of the status of minorities in India. He observed that receiving primary education in one’s own mother tongue is an important minority right having universal acceptability and application but despite being guaranteed by the Constitution of India, it is not enforced in letter and spirit and the children having Urdu as their mother tongue are denied this right in Uttar Pradesh.
Prof. Arshi khan expressed concern over the dwindling economic status of Muslims in India and the sense of insecurity prevailing among minorities in the largest democracy of the world.
Dr. Md. Aftab Alam and Dr. M. Mohibul Haque also deliberated upon the issue of minority rights. The panelists stressed the need for uniform law of compensation for all in case of communal violence in India. It was also resolved that India’s age old ethos of unity with diversity should be cherished and promoted in all circumstances.
Earlier, Prof. Asmer Beg, Chairman of the Department of Political Science welcomed the Panelists and highlighted the significance of the day.
Affirming that religious intolerance and extremism posed direct threat to minorities and other vulnerable groups like women, Dalits etc, a resolution was also passed on this occasion urging the government to ensure check on hate speeches and vicious campaign through sincere and effective application of the rule of law.
The United Nations’ General Assembly adopted the “Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnical, Religious and Linguistic Minorities” on 18th December 1992.