GNS SRINAGAR DEC : Calling for a "focused" follow-up of the Sachar Committee report on minorities, patron of Jammu and Kashmir's main opposition Peoples Democratic Party Mufti Mohammed Sayed today said the "unfortunate demolition of Babri Masjid had caused a deep wound into the psyche of the Muslims of India but they have responded to it with exemplary aplomb and sense of responsibility".
In a statement issued on the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, the PDP patron said pulling down of the holy site was a great challenge to the spirit of India as much as it was for the communities in an atmosphere surcharged with emotion and rhetoric.
He said decades down the line it has been established that the rights of the minority community cannot be compromised or denied. He said the people of the country had through successive elections conveyed a clear message to communal forces to either fall in line with the secular constitution or remain out of the political mainstream. "The faith Muslims of the country have reposed in the idea of India and its institutions should be reciprocated with empowerment now," he said.
Mufti, who was the Home Minister of the country during the tumultuous period before the demolition of the Babri Masjid, recalled "how the Janta Dal government under VP Singh had preferred to sacrifice itself to being blackmailed into assisting the atrocity that has become a black spot on the country's post-independent history".
He said there is "no dearth of forces" in this country which can stand up for the rights of the minorities and the Muslims have through their conduct and political maturity shown that they are well deserved recipients of such support and trust.
Mufti said the Muslims of the country continue to face socio economic problems that have pushed most of them almost to the lowest strata of the society. Though the Prime Minister's initiative in appointing the Sachar Committee was a positive step to identify areas that need intervention, the institutive, however, lack a serious follow-up. Most recommendations made by the committee remain unimplemented. He said the Sachar Committee report established that Muslims are not a problem but they as a community and a class is faced with problems of development and socio economic deprivation.
He said Muslims of India are a politically powerful community but unfortunately their problems are dealt with in fits and starts mostly around the time of elections. Even now different claimants to power in Uttar Pradesh, which is going to poll soon, are making noises about reservation in govt services to Muslims. These voices, otherwise, do not find mention and always remain a hollow slogan.
He said instead of false promises there is need to have a national policy on minorities, especially the Muslims who constitute one of the most backward sections of our society. "Our country can't aspire to become a world power with its 17 per cent of population struggling at the lowest ladder of poverty.
In a statement issued on the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, the PDP patron said pulling down of the holy site was a great challenge to the spirit of India as much as it was for the communities in an atmosphere surcharged with emotion and rhetoric.
He said decades down the line it has been established that the rights of the minority community cannot be compromised or denied. He said the people of the country had through successive elections conveyed a clear message to communal forces to either fall in line with the secular constitution or remain out of the political mainstream. "The faith Muslims of the country have reposed in the idea of India and its institutions should be reciprocated with empowerment now," he said.
Mufti, who was the Home Minister of the country during the tumultuous period before the demolition of the Babri Masjid, recalled "how the Janta Dal government under VP Singh had preferred to sacrifice itself to being blackmailed into assisting the atrocity that has become a black spot on the country's post-independent history".
He said there is "no dearth of forces" in this country which can stand up for the rights of the minorities and the Muslims have through their conduct and political maturity shown that they are well deserved recipients of such support and trust.
Mufti said the Muslims of the country continue to face socio economic problems that have pushed most of them almost to the lowest strata of the society. Though the Prime Minister's initiative in appointing the Sachar Committee was a positive step to identify areas that need intervention, the institutive, however, lack a serious follow-up. Most recommendations made by the committee remain unimplemented. He said the Sachar Committee report established that Muslims are not a problem but they as a community and a class is faced with problems of development and socio economic deprivation.
He said Muslims of India are a politically powerful community but unfortunately their problems are dealt with in fits and starts mostly around the time of elections. Even now different claimants to power in Uttar Pradesh, which is going to poll soon, are making noises about reservation in govt services to Muslims. These voices, otherwise, do not find mention and always remain a hollow slogan.
He said instead of false promises there is need to have a national policy on minorities, especially the Muslims who constitute one of the most backward sections of our society. "Our country can't aspire to become a world power with its 17 per cent of population struggling at the lowest ladder of poverty.
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