Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

that a national party which calls itself secular has not only tried to sabotage this
glorious representative religious body of my community but even put the splitting
of the SGPC on its election manifesto. A very dangerous situation was
emerging, threatening to push Punjab back into the dark days of the eighties
and early nineties. I must thank the Honourable Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh ji for his timely intervention in the matter. But I wish to caution this
august house that any revival of that move will be fraught with serious dangers
for the cause of peace, communal harmony and national integration.
A new dimension has been now added to the minority question with a highly
ill-advised move for determining minority status at the state level only. This will
completely destory the concept of national minorities. I wish to caution the whole
country here today that this move is potentially dangerous and can pose a
serious danger to the process of national integration, as this will alienate the
minorities and will create fresh fears and insecurity in their minds. Minorities
must be allowed to flourish in an atmosphere free from any unreasonable
constraints. Effective safeguards must be provided to protect, preserve and
promote their unique economic, cultural, educational and religious concerns.
Safeguarding the minorities amounts to safeguarding the spirit of national
integration.
Communal Harmony
Maintaining peace and preserving communal harmony must rank among
the top priorities of any government, at the center or in the states. But peace
and communal harmony are far more than administrative issues. A major national
effort is needed for promoting sentiments of brotherhood among people
professing different faiths. Our Constitution guarantees the freedom of
consicence but much more than a constitutional guarantee would be required
to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood among various commuities.
In this, Punjab can be a torch bearer not only to the rest of the country
but to the whole world. At a time when divisive forces are exploiting religious,
caste and ideological differences to foment unrest and tear apart the national
secular fabric, it will be in the fitness of things to bring national focus on to
the tercentenary celebrations of Guruta of holy Sikh scripture, Sri Guru Granth
Sahib in the next few weeks as celebrations are already peaking around the
globe and a groundswell of religious fervour is sweeping the people irrespective
of their religious affiliations.
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