06-16-2004, 01:29 AM
Minorities find CMP not adequate -- important press release
ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL
Regd. Office: 8-2-601/B/17 Bhanu Society Banjara Hills, Hyderabad
500034 Andhra Pradesh, India
President: Dr Joseph D' Souza Secretary General: Dr. John Dayal
Please correspond with Secretary General at:
505 Link Society, 18 I.P. Extension, Delhi 110092 India
Phone (91 11) 22722262 Mobile 09811021072
Email: johndayal@v...
URGENT PRESS STATEMENT
DELHI, May 28, 2004
Christians, other Minority groups welcome CMP, but say their
security, welfare concerns not adequately addressed
[The following statement was issued today by All India Christian
Council secretary general Dr John Dayal on behalf of the All India
Catholic Union (President Dr M E Menezes) All India Christian Council
(President Dr Joseph D Souza), United Christian Action (President
Mrs. Kamlesh Jacob) and The Minorities Council (President Retired
Chief Justice Ahmadi, Secy Gen Prof Iqbal Ansari. Representatives of
these organisations had met to review the Common Minimum Programme of
the United Progressive Alliance of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
announced yesterday.]
We congratulate Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on assuming office as
Prime Minister of India, heading a secular government of the United
Progressive Alliance. We also congratulate Dr Singh, UPA chairperson
Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and members of the Alliance, particularly the Left,
for so earnestly having worked on Common Minimum Programme that
encapsulates their election promises to the People of India.
We particularly welcome the CMP promise to convene the National
Integration Council, which has not met for more than a decade. The
detoxification of the education system and its text books is a
natural consequence to the promise of "protecting and promoting
social harmony without fear or favour to deal with all obscurantist
and fundamental elements who come to disturb social amity and peace."
The minority communities will surely fully cooperate in this.
We also welcome CMP assurances on the revocation of the POTA, 33 per
cent reservations for women, the National Employment Guarantee Act,
Codification of All reservations including in the private sector, and
specially the implementation of Places of Worship Act which will
remove the Damocles sword hanging over many churches and temples
because the fanatics of the Sangh Parivar. These are in keeping with
the Human Face that the government has guaranteed both in the
economic and the social sectors. sector
We however regret that the CMP does not spell out qualitative
security and development assurances for the minorities, who are
seeking not just physical protection from marauding gangs of the
Sangh Parivar and its hate-mongering leadership, but are also seeking
their rightful place in the sun with opportunities of economic
development.
We therefore suggest some additions to the CMP to give it a more
force. Our suggestions include:
1. Urgent steps to ensure that Minority Education Institutions
are assured their Autonomy at all times.
2. A permanent empowered Equality Commission/Equal Opportunities
Commission to deal with the issues related to exclusion and
discriminations (As recommended by People Integration Council, which
was chaired by Mr. Arjun Singh last year.
3. Commission on backwardness and representation of religious
and linguistics minorities in the national life.
4. Benefits of affirmative action of the State to be available
to all persons belonging to S.C. irrespective of faith.
5. A Comprehensive Central Law on Communal Violence for (i)
Prevention (ii) Control (iii) Prosecution (iv) Adequate Compensation
& Rehabilitation as recommended by the Concerned Citizens Tribunal
2002.
6. Basic reform of the Policy System to make it function
independently accountable to law for impartial law-enforcement on the
lines suggested by the National Police Commission. (NPC 1978-81).
7. Basic reform of the administration of justice system
especially of the subordinate judiciary for delivery of prompt
untainted justice.
8. Use of force and firearms by the police to be brought into
conformity with human right standards.
9. Comprehensive Right to information law to make governance
transparent and accountable.
10. Review of the electoral system introducing measures enabling
underrepresented segments like women, religious minorities and
certain social groups get due representation in legislatures and
other elected bodies.
Released to the media by Dr John Dayal
ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL
Regd. Office: 8-2-601/B/17 Bhanu Society Banjara Hills, Hyderabad
500034 Andhra Pradesh, India
President: Dr Joseph D' Souza Secretary General: Dr. John Dayal
Please correspond with Secretary General at:
505 Link Society, 18 I.P. Extension, Delhi 110092 India
Phone (91 11) 22722262 Mobile 09811021072
Email: johndayal@v...
URGENT PRESS STATEMENT
DELHI, May 28, 2004
Christians, other Minority groups welcome CMP, but say their
security, welfare concerns not adequately addressed
[The following statement was issued today by All India Christian
Council secretary general Dr John Dayal on behalf of the All India
Catholic Union (President Dr M E Menezes) All India Christian Council
(President Dr Joseph D Souza), United Christian Action (President
Mrs. Kamlesh Jacob) and The Minorities Council (President Retired
Chief Justice Ahmadi, Secy Gen Prof Iqbal Ansari. Representatives of
these organisations had met to review the Common Minimum Programme of
the United Progressive Alliance of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
announced yesterday.]
We congratulate Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on assuming office as
Prime Minister of India, heading a secular government of the United
Progressive Alliance. We also congratulate Dr Singh, UPA chairperson
Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and members of the Alliance, particularly the Left,
for so earnestly having worked on Common Minimum Programme that
encapsulates their election promises to the People of India.
We particularly welcome the CMP promise to convene the National
Integration Council, which has not met for more than a decade. The
detoxification of the education system and its text books is a
natural consequence to the promise of "protecting and promoting
social harmony without fear or favour to deal with all obscurantist
and fundamental elements who come to disturb social amity and peace."
The minority communities will surely fully cooperate in this.
We also welcome CMP assurances on the revocation of the POTA, 33 per
cent reservations for women, the National Employment Guarantee Act,
Codification of All reservations including in the private sector, and
specially the implementation of Places of Worship Act which will
remove the Damocles sword hanging over many churches and temples
because the fanatics of the Sangh Parivar. These are in keeping with
the Human Face that the government has guaranteed both in the
economic and the social sectors. sector
We however regret that the CMP does not spell out qualitative
security and development assurances for the minorities, who are
seeking not just physical protection from marauding gangs of the
Sangh Parivar and its hate-mongering leadership, but are also seeking
their rightful place in the sun with opportunities of economic
development.
We therefore suggest some additions to the CMP to give it a more
force. Our suggestions include:
1. Urgent steps to ensure that Minority Education Institutions
are assured their Autonomy at all times.
2. A permanent empowered Equality Commission/Equal Opportunities
Commission to deal with the issues related to exclusion and
discriminations (As recommended by People Integration Council, which
was chaired by Mr. Arjun Singh last year.
3. Commission on backwardness and representation of religious
and linguistics minorities in the national life.
4. Benefits of affirmative action of the State to be available
to all persons belonging to S.C. irrespective of faith.
5. A Comprehensive Central Law on Communal Violence for (i)
Prevention (ii) Control (iii) Prosecution (iv) Adequate Compensation
& Rehabilitation as recommended by the Concerned Citizens Tribunal
2002.
6. Basic reform of the Policy System to make it function
independently accountable to law for impartial law-enforcement on the
lines suggested by the National Police Commission. (NPC 1978-81).
7. Basic reform of the administration of justice system
especially of the subordinate judiciary for delivery of prompt
untainted justice.
8. Use of force and firearms by the police to be brought into
conformity with human right standards.
9. Comprehensive Right to information law to make governance
transparent and accountable.
10. Review of the electoral system introducing measures enabling
underrepresented segments like women, religious minorities and
certain social groups get due representation in legislatures and
other elected bodies.
Released to the media by Dr John Dayal