Babari Masjid: The BJP made solemn commitments to the Supreme Court, to Parliament and to the National Integration Council that the Babari Masjid would be protected. The Congress government at the Centre believed that these commitments would be honoured both in letter and spirit. It was betrayed.
Even so, it unreservedly apologises to the people of India that it could not prevent the tragic event of December 6th, 1992. The Congress gives a solemn pledge that such events will not take place again.
It is clear that such commitments were only a smokescreen, a ruse. The main actors of this demolition squad proudly asserted that "matters of faith are not subject to the law and the Constitution".
The BJP is not apologetic. It wants to repeat Ayodhya at Kashi and Mathura.
Secularism: To the true Congress worker, secularism is an article of faith, a way of life .. The Congress does not consider secularism to be anti-religion or the rejection of religion. It means Sarva Dharma Sambhaava, equal respect for all religions. It means the rejection of the use of religion for political ends, the rejection of the mobilisation of people by stirring up religious passions.
The Congress has always believed that an India that is not secular just cannot survive. Democracy and social harmony can never flourish in a society that is not secular, Indian civilisation has lived and grown over the past 5000 years and more only because of its secular tradition. We are the world's oldest and largest pluralistic society. That heritage is under attack. Pluralism under attack means democracy under attack.
The vandals belonging to the Sangh Parivar, who pulled down the Babari Masjid were not just destroying India's composite culture. They were, in fact, also destroying Indian democracy. Religious passions are being unleashed and people are being mobilised in the name of religion. India's hallmark has been both its desire and capability for synthesis. That is sought to be rejected in the name of uniformity or "cultural nationalism", whatever that might mean. The Congress regards all citizens as equal.
Yet, it recognises minorities of several kinds because of the special disadvantages that they suffer and the special help they need. This is the burden of history. This is not appeasement. This is simply heeding the call of the Indian Constitution. The Congress rejects communalism of all kinds, communalism whatever its source.
Neither the Congress nor the country can ever forget that we have lost two of the most precious lives of India at the altar of secularism: Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi. Since its inception, the Congress has fought against communal forces in all forms. The Congress has never compromised with the BJP. Nor will it ever do so. Education: ... The Congress will launch a new scheme Desh ke Liye - Ek Saal. Educated youth will be mobilised and paid for their involvement for a year in mission- oriented projects in areas like literacy drives, afforestation schemes, family planning programmes, social reform movements, legal rights awareness campaigns. The choice of opting for this programme after school or college will be a matter of individual choice.
Minorities: Indiraji's 15-point programme for Minorities continues to be our blueprint. Each and every element of this programme will be implemented with renewed vigour. The Congress will create a new Ministry for Minorities to ensure better coordination and integration. A high-powered Commission will be set up to examine and give recommendations on how the representation of minorities in public services could be enhanced in a meaningful manner.
The Congress will amend the Constitution to establish a Commission for Minority Educational Institutions and provide direct affiliation for minority professional institutions to central universities.
New middle-level technical institutions in clusters where, for example, artisans and weavers are concentrated will be started.
The Congress will substantially enhance the corpus of the Maulana Azad Educational Foundation to spread education and literacy among minority communities.
In 1996, the Congress took the initiative to establish the Maulana Azad National Urdu University at Hyderabad. This University will impart higher education, particularly vocational and technical education in the Urdu medium specially to women. The Congress will ensure that this University emerges as a centre of excellence. The Congress Government made Urdu the second official language in UP and Bihar. However, no follow-up action was taken by subsequent governments.
The Congress will give Urdu its due status. The Congress respects the personal laws of all communities and rejects that idea of an uniform personal law for all Indians. This goes against the very nature of Indian civilisation itself. Reforms of personal laws of communities will be considered only when there is a demand for change from the communities themselves.
The Congress enacted the Protection of Places Worship Act in 1991. This freezes the status of all places of worship as on August 15, 1947. This law will be strictly enforced. On Ayodhya, the Congress will abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court. No other outside court solution will be allowed. The Congress will include socially and educationally backward minorities in the list of beneficiaries entitled to reservations and other special measures intended for the OBCs Special security and insurance schemes for weavers and handloom workers, fishermen, toddy tappers, leather workers and plantation labourers will be introduced.
A special drive will be launched for the recruitment of minorities to the police, paramilitary forces and the armed forces. Communally-sensitive districts and places will be kept under special watch.
