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Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

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Ghar Wapsi sword at the throat. This is what the constitution guarantees us. We seek<br />

no more. Sir, I will take a minute. There are things that can be done to stop it. Stern<br />

action against hate crimes, in acting <strong>of</strong> the communal violence bill, comprehensive<br />

relief and rehabilitation, and the quick representation to all minorities and this in Kandhamal<br />

and other places is abysmal in its implementation, a thorough revamp <strong>of</strong> education<br />

system. Schools upon schools, in villages upon villages, they are teaching five year<br />

olds how to hate. They are teaching ten year olds how to kill. When they become<br />

fourteen, they kill. Above all the State, Parliament, Supreme Court and Executive<br />

must ensure that no one remains under the illusion unfortunately very well founded<br />

represent that communal politics, hate and demonisation <strong>of</strong> religious minorities, can<br />

bring them electoral dividends in an India <strong>of</strong> 21 st century. Sir, I would be failing my<br />

community if I do not mention the issue <strong>of</strong> dalit Christians, for too long has this taken to<br />

be sorted out, community has been like a ping pong between Court, Government,<br />

Commissions, time to took a decision say yes.<br />

<strong>Home</strong> Minister :Thank You. May I request Mr. A.B. Bardhan to make a statement<br />

please.<br />

Shri A. B. Bardhan<br />

Distinguished Members <strong>of</strong> the National <strong>Integration</strong> <strong>Council</strong>, I do not wish to<br />

indulge in generalities. Very l<strong>of</strong>ty sentiments have been already expressed both by you,<br />

Mr. Patil and also by the Prime Minister. But it seems to me that the l<strong>of</strong>ty sentiments<br />

are not followed by deeds. More than forty years are over since this whole question<br />

<strong>of</strong> National <strong>Integration</strong> <strong>Council</strong> came up and we have met only eleven times or thirteen<br />

may be. It has taken us so long to wake up knowing fully well that the whole integrity<br />

<strong>of</strong> our country is being torn apart by religious conflicts. I think we should have woken<br />

up much earlier that is the first point that I would like to emphasize. If you want to get<br />

the National <strong>Integration</strong> <strong>Council</strong> seriously, I do not say that it should become a meeting<br />

that takes place very frequently, but we should wake up in time and hold the<br />

meeting much earlier as desired, at least once a year. My second point is Sir, without<br />

going into any generalities, I must say that <strong>of</strong> all the subjects that have been<br />

listed, the whole question <strong>of</strong> communalism must be taken very seriously. Whatever<br />

is happening in the name <strong>of</strong> fighting terrorism, I think is not helping to fight against<br />

communalism. We are in fact doing everything to alienate more and more a very<br />

important community <strong>of</strong> our country. Next to the Hindus which is the majority<br />

community, the most numerous community that is there in our country, are the<br />

muslims. We can’t think <strong>of</strong> India without thinking both <strong>of</strong> the Hindus and Muslims,<br />

and <strong>of</strong> course, Christians and Sikhs, and everybody else. There is no doubt about<br />

it. I think we are going far astray by alienating the entire muslim community. We<br />

first <strong>of</strong> all thought that the terrorists are a small group <strong>of</strong> people who are misled. But<br />

11

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