Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Minorities
(NCM) has asked the Chhattisgarh Government
to ensure that social and political groups are
not allowed to exploit religious sentiments
for their narrow ends.
"Such groups have been assiduously indulging
in hate propaganda against Christians in general
and Christian missionaries in particular,"
a statement issued by the Commission said here
on Friday.
It has also drawn the State Government's attention
to areas where the naxal movement was strong
and asked it not to lower its guard. If a section
of the citizenry feels it is marginalised and
has no stake in the future of the country, it
could be an easy prey to elements whose main
aim is to destabilise society, the Commission
said.
The first step to stall such a development will
be to suitably amend the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue
Code or to interpret it in the widest possible
manner, it said.
The observations came following complaints received
by the Commission from tribal Christians in
Jashpur district, alleging partisan and discriminatory
treatment from the district administration at
the instance of "vested interests."
A NCM team visited Jashpur in March and organised
public hearings where people alleged that the
Government was interpreting and implementing
the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code 1959 in a
manner harmful to the interests of tribal Christians.
Section 170 B of the Code bars the sale of Adivasi
agricultural land to a non-adivasi to protect
the interests of the poor and illiterate tribal
people. They alleged that the provision was
being used to prevent Christian tribals from
setting up schools and dispensaries that could
cater to the needs of their community.
They said that since they were not in a position
to set up schools or hospitals themselves, they
handed over
their land to societies formed for the purpose
but these efforts were stalled because the sale
of such land was not permitted to the societies
either.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/05/05/stories/2007050502290900.htm
