Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

sorry to say it that instead of getting it diluted, caste politics is increasing by leaps and
bounds, and some way it is also linked to the communal politics. The mindset which is
operating in proliferation of the caste politics, same mindset somewhere is contributing
to communal tension, that the same kind of people want to remain in the seat of power,
whether using the caste or whether using community, religion, whatsoever it may be.
So, at the end I will request that the caste politics, divisive politics, must be dealt with. I
am sorry to say it. The nation in which we are and there are other nations which started
their development, their democracy much after us, for instance China, they have gone
much ahead of us but where are we? Of course our growth rate is higher but I don’t
think that it is percolating down to grossroot level. May be growth rate is about 9 %.
But still India lives in many centuries behind, in some part of India there are the people
who are living thousand years behind. The fruits of techonology, industrial growth,
market economy, globalization have not, are not reaching the people. So, we have to
also take into account and I think the caste politics is also responsible for this. So,
those who in the name of Dr. Ambedkar are doing caste politics should be rebuffed,
that politics should be rebuffed and of course, right thinking people should come
together and should promote each other. Unfortunately Indian media is not playing the
role which it should have. That is very unfortunate. If the media is not doing it then of
course there are other sections and the sections who can set the direction of the country
are here, so they can set it. We have been in the habit of thinking very traditionally and of
course that is not going to solve our problems, for this has to be taken into very seriously
and with this, I thank you all, thank you.
Shri Navid Hamid : That after three and half years this National Integration
Council is meeting and I sincerely think that as there are around 150 members and
there are seven important issues which have to be discussed and deliberated
upon. I sincerely request that this meeting should be extended to two days and
there should be no impression this is like a meeting of National Development
Council. The Chief Ministers should be given the chance to speak at the end of
discussion because there are number of activists here who are working at the
ground level and who have more information about the communal and the violent
situation across the country and my sincere request is that they should be allowed
at the initial stage.
Home Minister : Well I would like to thank Mr. Udit Raj for his statement. Now the
suggestion which you have given cannot immediately be accepted because the Hon’ble
Chief Ministers and other members have their programmes organised for tomorrow
also. So without consulting them, it would not be possible. But I would request all the
Hon’ble members to make their statements as briefly as possible. If they complete their
statements in seven minutes time, it would be very useful and we would like to give the
opportunity to all the members who want to speak and if necessary we can
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