Secularism

Secularism is an article of faith for every Congress worker ... In our country, secularism can only mean equal respect for all religions and the clear separation of politics from religion ...

The Congress vehemently rejects the use of religion for political ends. It rejects the mobilisation of people by stirring up religious passions. The Congress regards all citizens as equal. Yet, it recognises minorities of several kinds because of the some disadvantages and handicaps they suffer and the special help they may need.

The debate on secularism is, at its very core, a debate . on the very essence of the Indian culture. It is a debate between those who see Indian civilisation as what it is – a most tolerant and liberal way of life - and those who seek to distort it by their bigotry, narrow mindedness and intolerance.

Secularism is thus a fight for the very soul of India and for rescuing it from the merchants of hate.

Social Harmony

There is a new ferment and a new yearning among the underprivileged and deprived sections and communities of our society. The Congress has always been sensitive to their growing aspirations for voice, for full representation in the institutions of governance, for social acceptance and the direct exercise of political power.

The Congreus is fully aware that increasingly, the demand is for parity, not for charity, the desire is not for benevolence but for participation. The Congress has always championed the cause of equal opportunity. It has consistently believed that equal and full access to education, employment and health is the foundation of an egalitarian society ..

But the scars of centuries of discrimination cannot be overcome by education and health along. There is need for affirmative action in the form of reservation also ...

Unity through Diversity

... India is one nation but comprises of diversity and plural culture.

India, the land of multiple identities and of multiple diversities faces many challenges to her political unity ....

India is one and many at the same time.

That oneness has to be preserved and strengthened.

At the same time the variety has to be recognised, nurtured and given every opportunity for full expression ...

The Congress is a national party that has always been responsive to regional sentiments ...

Work-Plan - Minorities

The Congress will vigorously pursue the seven-point Intensified Programme for the Protection and Promotion of the Minorities announced on Martyrs' Day 1999 ...

Measures will be taken to increase the representation of minorities in all public, police and para-military services both in the central in state governments. The Congress commits itself to constitute a Commission to examine, consistent with the relevant provision of the Constitution relating to the minorities, the question of the backwardness of the minorities. It will implement the recommendations of this Commission in the context of the various relevant provisions of the Constitution, in particular Articles 15(4) and 16(4).

The Constitution will be amended to establish a Commission for Minority Educational Institutions and to provide direct affiliation for minority professional institutions to central universities.

New middle-level technical institutes in clusters where, for example, weavers and artisans are concentrated will be started.

The National Minorities Development Corporation and the State Minorities Development Corporations will be made direct-lending institutions.

The corpus of the Maulana Azad Education Foundation will be immediately doubled to spread

education and literacy among the minorities.

The spread of modern and technical education among the minorities, especially amongst women, is the most important step that any government can take to integrate the minorities into the national mainstream.

A Central Madarsa Education Board will be established to promote modern and scientific education, along with the traditional curriculum in all madarsas.

Consistent with Article 347 of the Constitution, the Congress will examine demands to declare Urdu as an official language in States where a substantial proportion of the population speaks that language.

The Maulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad will be given all support to emerge as a centre of excellence ...

The Protection of Places Worship Act of 1991 (sic) will be strictly enforced.

Substantial legislation will be introduced for the effective implementation of the rights conferred on minorities under Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution.

All pending litigation involving wakf boards and properties will be resolved on a time-bound basis. The practice of superseding elected wakf boards and keeping them under indefinite suspension will be actively discouraged.

The Wakf Act, 1995 will be reviewed for its effective implementation and where necessary, will be amended to protect Wakf properties.

Special courts will be established to expeditiously try cases arising out of communal disturbances ....