"The Nation does not belong to any
single race. It belongs to a mosaic of religiously,
linguistically and culturally varied communities...
India must remain a nation where pluralism and
socio-religious variety are respected. In a
pluralistic society like ours, national identity
cannot be adjudged by any litmus test ... This
nation does not belong to any single race, least
of all to any group of religious extremists.''
Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s
address on the occasion:
“It gives me great pleasure
in welcoming you to this Annual Conference of
State Minorities Commissions. I am happy to
note that the National Commission for Minorities
has organized this Conference with the State
Commissions to strengthen interaction with them
for diagnosing the key felt needs of minority
communities, identify solutions for those problems
on holistic basis and facilitating focus of
Government on the needs and concerns of our
minority community.
Friends, it is matter of common knowledge that
the source of India’s strength
and vitality lies in its immense diversity.
The founding fathers of our Republic were well
aware that management of Indian pluralism will
not fit into the classical federal model reflected
in the American Constitution of 1776. After
months of debate in the Constituent Assembly,
the Drafting Committee of our Constitution led
by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar sought to assimilate the
best features of different constitutions of
the world with the needs and aspirations of
Indian people and the primary requirement of
preserving the unity of our country. The product
of this unique evolutionary process in the Constituent
Assembly is our magnificent Constitution inter-weaving
the characteristics of the Indian pluralism.
The Constitution places a pre-eminent emphasis
on the values of liberty and justice, on treating
all citizens as equal before law and on safeguarding
the rights of minorities and the oppressed.
We derive our existence as a political community
from the Constitution, which we, the people,
gave to ourselves and, in the process established
the Republic of India. It is because we are
a Republic, and not a mere democracy, that we
are enjoined to nurture and indeed celebrate,
our linguistic, ethnic, cultural and religious
diversity and to ensure that our citizens do
not suffer from want and indignity. Though the
Indian tapestry of traditional multiculturism
nourished by many centuries of assimilative
forces has been subjected to occasional fissures,
the most diverse nation on earth has been able
to overcome those crises and use the innate
strength of Indian Republic to uphold the dignity
and integrity of our country.
In September this year I invited attention
of the Chief Ministers to the new 15 Point Programme
drawn up for the welfare of our minorities.
I have emphasized the need of a suitable mechanism
to monitor the implementation of the schemes
for their welfare. At the national level, the
Committee of Secretaries would do that and submit
a regular periodic report to the Cabinet. The
Chief Ministers have been urged to put in place
a similar mechanism at the State level so that
the new 15 Point Programme receives due attention
at the highest political level. It is essential
that communal peace and harmony should be maintained
and the minorities get a fair share in Central
and State Government and in the private sector
jobs. The Indian State has the solemn obligations
to protect life and liberty of all citizens,
particularly those belonging to the minority
communities. Those who seek to disturb communal
peace and harmony must be dealt with firmly.
Those who are affected by communal riots must
be provided with effective relief and rehabilitation
assistance. There should be regular monitoring
about the effectiveness and adequacy of any
such assistance.
Over the years, a large number of developmental
schemes had been introduced to address specific
problems relating to education, health, employment
and shelter for the poor and the under privileged.
Most of these programmes were either area-specific
or had defined target groups. Naturally, the
poor and the underprivileged amongst the minorities
are included in the target groups and they are
entitled to an equitable flow of benefits to
them under these programmes. However, available
evidence does not inspire confidence that the
benefits of these schemes have flowed equitably
to the eligible sections amongst our minorities.
As I see it, the main factor responsible for
socio-economic backwardness of the minority
communities, particularly the Muslim community
is the lack of access to the common school system.
This is particularly true in the case of the
Muslim girls. During the current plan period
and the next plan period, we must therefore
ensure that concrete schemes for setting up
of secondary and higher secondary schools in
the Blocks and Districts having predominantly
Muslim population are indeed implemented with
a sharper focus on the needs of the Muslim girls.
Widening of access of the Muslim girls in professional
education, particularly medical and engineering
courses should be a priority area of our educational
programmes. We have to provide the minority
youth skills which will enable them to get their
legitimate share in employment, both in the
public sector and in the private sector.
We have already taken a decision to upgrade
the status of the National Commission for Minorities
to a Constitutional body and a Bill to this
effect has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
We hope to enact this Bill in the coming winter
session of our Parliament. The Commission has
to be given adequate powers to investigate into
the complaints. Its finances and manpower base
will also be expended in order that it can play
a more proactive role for the benefit of the
minority communities. We are also trying, as
Shivraj ji has mentioned, to enact a comprehensive
legislation to tackle all aspects of communal
violence and also to bring out a new Police
Act. I am informed that the National Commission
for Minorities has given its suggestions on
these matters to the concerned central agencies.
Undoubtedly, India must remain a nation where
pluralism and socio-religious variety are respected
and honoured. In a pluralistic society like
ours, national identity cannot be adjudged by
any litmus test simply showing cent percent
homogeneity because unlike many other monoracial,
monoreligious and monolingual countries, a cent
percent homogenous society had never existed
and does not exist in India. This nation does
not belong to any single race, least of all
to any group of religious extremists. It belongs
to a mosaic of religiously, linguistically and
culturally varied communities and we celebrate
that diversity. Let us create an environment
where all Indians can strive for equitable prosperity
transcending the religious divide. Let us once
again dream as did the great martyrs of Indian
freedom movement and work for systematic reconstruction
of our multi-racial polity and society.
While rituals, theologies and institutions
might vary from religion to religion, the basic
religious values are common in all the great
religions; the basic values in one religion
are complementary to the other. Dialogue is
the only way to promote better understanding
between the various religious communities.
With these words, I thank the National Commission
for Minorities and the State Minorities Commissions
and hope that they will succeed in their efforts
to protect the rights of our minorities, suggest
measures for their socio-economic progress of
the minorities, promote the cause of communal
harmony and thereby strengthen the secular foundations
of Republic.
I wish the Conference all successâ€.
