Socio-religious leaders from the minority community gathered at Mushawarat Headquarters in the national capital to observe International Minority Rights Day on 18 December in order to take stock of the situation prevailing in the country against minorities, the challenges ahead and to evolve some mechanism that can help overcome problems faced by the minorities at regular intervals.
Sikh leader Harjeet Sigh, while addressing the gathering, said that although we are minority we have to rise above the mark defined as minority. Then only we can do something fruitful for the community. All those who are affluent in their society should do something for the weaker and marginalised within their community individually and collectively. We must expect from the government but at the same time we must also try to do what we can to raise the standard of living of the people in our locality.
Nusrat Ali, Vice President Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, while explaining the historical perspective of the International Minority Rights Day, said the purpose of this day is to evaluate present situation of the minorities, the problem faced and the challenges and to find out the road ahead under the prevailing situation. He said India is a democratic country and it is known worldwide for its unity and diversity. Efforts are on to impose one set of ideology and culture in the name of uniformity and assimilation of other religious minorities into its fold which is dangerous not only for the people but for the country as well.
Abdur Rashid Agwan, Delhi State President of Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, said that instead of finding out negativity and pointing out while citing distorted historical evidence against each other efforts should be made to forget the past and move forward and coordinate and cooperate to help out the minority in need. All minority groups should strengthen their bonding to face the challenges from time to time unitedly and effectively.
In order to strengthen the cause of the minorities, the United Nations promulgated the “Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities” on 18th December 1992 proclaiming that: “States shall protect the existence of the National or Ethnic, Cultural, Religious and Linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity.”