Shahabuddin's Letter to PM Vajpayee, 23 May, 00
May I draw your attention to the suggestion made by your college Shri Tapan Sikdar, Minister of State, for the formation of a Ministry for Minority Affairs.
As you are aware, this has been a longstanding demand of the minorities, particularly of the Muslim community, so that they do not have to run from pillar to post to get their problems attended to or their grievances redressed. Further, this would make for coordination between various officials and semi-official bodies concerned with the implementation of programmes for minorities welfare, such as the National Commission for Minorities, the Central Wakf Council, the National Minorities Finance and Development Corporation, the Haj Committee, the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu etc. This ministry could also monitor the implementation of the PM's 15-Point Programme and intervene, when necessary, in cases such as those relating to recognition of minorities educational institutions and permission to receive foreign contributions or exemption of charitable trusts from income tax etc., handled by other ministries/departments.
However, I would like to suggest that the Ministry of Minorities Affairs should function directly under the Prime Minister because minorities grievances are the concern of several ministries and departments. The P.M. may like to have a MOS for Minority Affairs to assist him.
I request you to give serious consideration to Shri Sikdar's suggestion.
What Makes Muslims Distrust Police?
Shahabuddin's Letter to Delhi Police Commissioner, 19 Oct., 2000
I have seen your statement on distrust and hostility between the Muslim and the police force.
It is not difficult to understand the psychological distance between the two, if you recall the numerous atrocities committed by the police force in various parts of the country over the last few decades and the partisan role that the police, particularly the armed constabulary played in situation of conflict and violence.
Coming to Delhi, I wonder if you have ever checked the known cases of arbitrary arrests, custodial killings and atrocities. I imagine you would find a disproportionate share of the Muslims. It may be that there are proportionately more criminals among Muslims and, therefore, they are targeted by the police! It may also be that the police is activated by communal bias and prejudice.
This anti-Muslim bias, believe me, is a fact of life. There are only two ways, I can see, of reducing it, you cannot eliminate it altogether. The first is good training and secular leadership. The second is co-option of Muslims in the police force. I think the PM's 15-Point Programme for Welfare of Minorities also makes this point. Short of reservation, there are ways of ensuring due representation of Muslim in the force. Once the face of the force is more cosmopolitan, the communal edges will be automatically rubbed out. And I dare say that a Muslim SI 01, a Muslim Constable can be more useful to you in Muslim mahallas as the British found that black and Asian policemen are more effective in Black and Asian concentration areas of London.
President K.R. Narayanan On Growing Intolerance
There is scattered intolerance abroad which is worrying. It is not as if everyone has become intolerant. The majority of the people are tolerant. But what is happening is that important people are not condemning intolerance enough...
Sometimes, many leaders do not strongly condemn intolerance even for the sake of condemning. It is very important that leaders and opinion makers should strongly argue against the spirit of intolerance where people are made to attack each other in the name of faith, language or for any other reason.
(Source: The Week, 5 November, 2000)
PM Atal Behari Vajpayee On Social Peace
India's greatest asset is her unity in diversity. Let us together strengthen our unity, by creating greater tolerance and respect for our linguistic, ethnic, regional and religious diversity. Today, there is greater social cohesion and communal peace, for which I compliment people belonging to all communities. We must now make it a permanent feature of our national life.
(Source: The BJP Today, 1-15 November, 2000)
Peril of Identity, Muslims with ISI
Editorial, The Milli Gazette, 16-31 Oct., 2000
“Our suspicion is that ISI activities are not that large and widespread as the saffron home minister makes them out to be. We further suspect that the aim is to create a certain atmosphere in the country (sic), which will provide the right environment conducive for the passages of changes cherished by the Sangh Parivar. Let all be warned that it's playing with fire to sow the seeds of hatred and suspicion about such a large community. The repercussions will be bitter indeed and nothing like what you have seen until now... The few terrorist elements here and there do not enjoy the community's support. But any overplaying, will change the scenario and the moment the community at large supports such activities it will be hell and not a thousand Advanis will be able to contain it. The J&K and North-East examples are for us all to see."
