Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

Honorable Prime Minister has also appreciated the great resilience
and resolve demostrated by the people of Gujarat during his visit after the
bomb blasts.
However, I may mention that the rise of terrorism with educated youth
involving in terrorists attack does not augur well for communal harmony. National
consensus is required to isolate such people, groups and the so called intellectuals
supporting these elements in the name of protection of human rights. Deterrent
punishment is necessary to keep the youth away from such indoctrination.
I once again urge the Union government to expedite approval of GUJCOC.
Mass religious conversions by coercion and allurement must be checked to
ensure peace in the society. Communal peace is often disturbed in the society
because of such activities. In civil appeal No. 1489 and 1511 of 1974: Rev.
Stanislaus Vs. State of M.P. and others and in criminal appeal No.255 of 1974
and civil appeal No.344-346 of 1976 State of Orissa Vs. Yulitha Hyde and
others the Supreme Court had observed "what Article 25(1) of the Constitution
grants is not right to convert another person to one's own religion by an exposition
of it tenets. Articles 25 (1) guarantees "freedom of conscience" to every citizen
and not merely to the followers of one particular religion, and that in turn
postulates that there is no fundamental rights to convert another person to his
religion that would impinge on the "freedom of conscience" guaranteed to all the
citizens of the country." (AIR 1977 SC 908-1977 CLR. L.J. 551 (A.N. Ray, CJ
MH Beg. RS Sarkaria, PN Shinghal and Jaswant Singh JJ.)
Let the religious groups profess and practice their respective religions and
refrain from forcible conversion. Let all resources available with such groups
and organizations be utilized for upliftment of deprived sections of the groups
and communities rather than use such resources in religious propaganda which
fall in the realm of personal faith.
5. Social Structure-Caste and Identity divisions and rhetoric :
Indian peninsula is known as the home to many castes and communities.
The diversity of the India society has added color to our culture and heritage
and contributed greatly to its growth and development. About 52% of the total
population of the State belongs to the backward class. There are 145 communities
which are covered under socially and Educationally Backward Class which also
includes 29 religious minority communities and 40 Nomadic and Denotified
Tribes. Population of the minority communities in the State is about 9.45%.
Scheduled Castes population in the State is 7.09% whereas the Scheduled Tribe
population is about 15%
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