Communal situation in the country!

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By M.Y.Siddiqui

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) monitors continuously the internal security situation, issues appropriate advisories, shares intelligence inputs, extends manpower and financial support, guidance and expertise to the State Governments for maintenance of security, peace and harmony without encroaching upon their Constitutional rights. It also keeps a tab on national integration, communal harmony and Ayodhya.

According to the MHA, during the calendar year 2014, 644 communal incidents were reported across India in which 95 people lost their lives and 1,921 were injured. During the period, one major communal riot took place in Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) in July 2014. Comparatively, during the preceding year 2013, there were 823 communal incidents reported throughout the country in which 133 persons were killed and 2,269 people injured. Two major communal riots occurred during 2013 in Dhule (Maharashtra) and Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh).

However, according to official sources, a disturbing trend has occurred in the recent past across the country, unsettling India’s time tested unity amidst its diversity and civilisational strength of Vasuddhaiv Kutumbakam and Sarvadharma Sambhav amongst the citizens of the country, with frequent loud mouthing by elements in the ruling conglomerates over ‘ghar wapsi’, ‘love-jihad’, forced sterilization of minorities, attacks on churches, disenfranchisement of Muslims, creating a situation of growing fear and insecurity among the minorities, notwithstanding the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s declarations to defend, protect and preserve the Constitutional postulates of equality, harmony, national integrity and equal treatment of all people irrespective of their castes, creed, sexes and religions. In the process, there is heightened social tension possibly endangering the much-hyped climate of investments and economic growth of the nation.

Added to the foregoing, the MHA is also keeping a watch on the activities of all religious fundamental organizations or groups, having a bearing on peace, communal harmony and security of the country. Their activities are constantly monitored by law enforcement agencies and appropriate action taken wherever necessary.

A dedicated organization, National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH) under the MHA has been promoting communal harmony and national integration amongst people of India. It’s activities include reaching out to the schools, youth in universities, women and others to make them active agents for promoting communal harmony and national integration. NFCH publishes a newsletter, Sadbhavana Sandesh carrying the messages of peaceful co-existence and mutual respect for all religions. In some other important activity, the Foundation provides financial assistance to the child victims of communal, caste, ethnic and terrorist violence all over the nation for their care and education to rehabilitate them in the society. It provides them monthly financial assistance per child Rs.1,000 up to class twelfth, Rs.1,250 for graduation and Rs.1,500 for medical/engineering/MBA up to the age of 25 years. A sum of Rs.5.31 crore was incurred on assistance to such child victims during financial year 2014-15.

Some other important activities of the NFCH include observing of Communal Harmony Week and Flag Day from November 19-25 every year to coincide with the Qaumi Ekta Week. The last working day of the Week is observed as the Communal Harmony Flag Day. On this Day, the NHCH raises funds as well for its communal harmony programmes. The NFCH has also instituted two annual awards, one in individual category and the other in organizational category to be selected under a jury headed by the Vice President of India for promotion of national integration and communal harmony. The individual category award includes a certificate and cash amount of Rs.5 lakh and for organization(s) a certificate and cash amount of Rs.10 lakh. Other important activities of NFCH cover Reach, Interfaith Interaction, Partnership and Cause Partnership, independently or through state governments, NGOs, educational and other organizations to promote communal harmony and national integration.

At the apex, there is National Integration Council (NIC) chaired by the Prime Minister with all Central Cabinet Ministers, State Chief Ministers, Lt. Governors of Union Territories, leaders of opposition of both Houses of Parliament, leaders of national political parties, leaders of regional political parties, National Commissions, media persons, representatives of business, eminent public figures and women’s representatives to articulate nation’s collective resolve to maintain national integration and communal harmony. The NIC had met last on September 23, 2013. As for disputed sites at Ayodhya, the Government of India has been maintaining status quo in coordination of the State Government of Uttar Pradesh and the authorized person/Commissioner, Faizabad Division, as directed by the Supreme Court of India and in terms of the Acquisition of Certain Area of Ayodhya Act, 1993. The Central Government is receiver under the impugned Act!

 

 

 

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