BANGALORE: Several representatives of Muslims and Christians on Thursday complained to the National Commission for Minorities that the State Government had what they termed an "anti-minority bias." They said their confidence was low and they were feeling insecure after the recent communal riots in Mangalore and parts of Bangalore.

The representatives of minorities, especially Muslims, spoke about the problems they are faced with, at a meeting with members of the commission, who were in Bangalore to hear their views on law and order, development programmes and other subjects.

Several Muslim leaders charged the police with taking sides during the communal violence. They alleged that lower-level officials of the Police Department had supported attacks against them. Compensation was yet to be paid to some of those injured in police firing, they said and submitted to the Commission a CD containing views of the victims of communal violence.

The leaders of minorities, including religious heads, demanded that the Police Department recruit Muslims and Christians in proportion to their population. Such a step would make the police force neutral, they said.

Christian leaders took serious exception to the recent decision by the State Cabinet to withdraw nearly 30 cases booked against those charred with inciting violence during the protests against the prayer meeting addressed by the U.S.-based evangelist Benny Hinn in Bangalore in 2005.

One of the leaders of the community, Sajan George, alleged that these cases dealt with attacks against Christians and questioned the logic behind the withdrawal of such cases by the present government.

Father Ambrose Pinto, principal of St. Joseph's College, Bangalore, charged the Government with showing a "terrible anti-minority bias." In addition to the communal violence, raking up of contentious issues such as Bababudangiri were also causing communal tension every year, he said.

`Form rights panel'

He suggested that the State Human Rights Commission be formed at the earliest to deal with attacks against minorities.

The Christian leaders sought the setting up of a committee on the lines of the Sachar Committee to study the socio-economic and educational status of Christians in the country.

Both Christian and Muslim representatives took exception to the derecognition of a large number of schools run by minorities for violating the language policy of the Government. They argued that the Government should not interfere with decisions taken by minority institutions.

Urdu anganwadis

They wanted Urdu anganwadis sanctioned in the State and infrastructure in Urdu schools to be upgraded.

Both the communities demanded reservation in jobs and education and adequate representation in politics.

Meets Chief Minister

Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities M.H. Ansari called on Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who explained the various steps taken by the Government to safeguard the interests of minorities.

Sources in the Chief Minister's secretariat said Mr. Kumaraswamy told Mr. Ansari that the Government was providing 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in employment.The Chief Minister said special care had been taken to protect Muslim interests during the recent communal clashes.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail