NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha adopted the National Commission for Minorities Bill to give statutory status to the Minorities Commission after a walk-out by the BJP.
The BJP staged a walk-out in protest against the measure. Its Suggestion that the government reconsider its decision and tum the Minorities Commission into a Minorities-cum-Human Rights Commission was rejected by the government.
Winding up the two-day debate ‘on the Bill the welfare minister Sitaram Kesri assured the House that the government would not be found waiting in coming forward in a Constitutional amendment if necessary to provide more teeth to the Minorities Commission
He said the government was giving statutory status to the Minorities Commission which was set up in 1978 during the Janata Party government in the Center.
Undeterred by constant interruptions by the BJP members Kesri denied the charge of the leader of the opposition L.K.Advani that the government had come forward with the Bill with an eye on the vote bank of minorities.
On the other hand Kesri contended that the Bill had been brought to infuse a sense of security among the minority communities.
Before staging a walk-out Advani criticized the Congress for lacking in courage to implement the statutory provisions of the Minorities Commission in Jammu and Kashmir. He said by providing statutory status to the Minorities Commission the government had made its statement clear of wanting to play politics with the emotions of minorities.
Speaking in his inimitable style Kesri said he was not an intellectual but spoke from experience of the ground situation and plight of the minorities. He blamed the BJP for trying to whip up a fear psychosis among the minorities particularly after the Rath Yatra of Advani.
He maintained that the minorities were feeling alienated and unless they joined the national main stream as equal partners in development there would be a vertical split in society.
He said if political parties made religion an issue it would lead to social disintegration of the country and cautioned them not to play with the religious sentiments of the people. It was for all parties and groups to realize the feelings of the minorities and the changes that were taking place in society “It is necessary to have sympathy towards the minorities. All of us must adopt a liberal and generous attitude towards the minorities of helping them But this is not happening Kesri added.
The minister asserted that the Congress was committed to granting statutory status to the Minorities Commission keeping the promise made in the ruling party’s election manifesto.
The resumed debate proceeded on expected lines with the BJP attacking the measure and the other parties.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 29, 1992
