Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

The media do not always observe professional standards. Sensationalism, lack
of knowledge of Muslim traditions and stereotyping rule the roost. This may be good
for the TRP ratings of the TV news channels. However, it is clearly disastrous for
communal peace in the country.
What is to be done? Changing deeply entrenched perceptions is a long haul. In a
communally-charged atmosphere, facts are not heard at all. Take the issue of conversions.
There are enough laws in the statute books of the union government and the state
governments prohibiting conversion by force or inducement. National Commission for
Minorities has repeatedly asked the state authorities in Orissa and Karnataka to tell us
how many cases have been filed under these laws. The answer will surprise you. Not
one. Nor are the authorities in a position to say why they have not acted against those
who have been engaged in reconverting Christians.
Home Minister– dqjS’kh lkgc vxj ekQ dhft,] vxj vkidks ,rjkt uk gks] rks ge oks fjdkMZ
ij ys ys axs iwjk dk iwjkA
Shri Qureshi – gka lkgc FkksM+k lk rks jg x;k gSA vPNh ckr rks jg xbZ gSA
Home Minister – ugha oks rks jkbZfVax es a gh fjdkMZ es a tk,xhA
Shri Qureshi
The freedom to practice, preach and propagate religion is guaranteed in our
constitution. To choose to migrate to another faith is a right of every citizen. What we
urgently need is an enquiry conducted at a national level to find out how this freedom
has been abused. How do you define forcible conversions? And what constitutes
‘inducement’? Who is to implement anti-conversion laws? And how do they go about
it? These are questions National Commission for Minorities has raised so many times.
In the meantime, let me propose a few practical steps to prevent the escalation
of communal strife. The authorities must crack down on hate speeches and hate
literature in a strong and timely manner. This is required to plug the eruption of
communal violence. A national policy of discouraging the cult of hatred and
communal polarization should be devised and implemented in letter and spirit. Once
any political party is found behind engineering riots and inciting communal passions
for electoral gains, directly or indirectly, through its agents, stern action should be
taken against such politicians including de-recognition of such political parties by
the Election Commission. The peace committees should be re-constituted giving
representation to the youths of all the communities. The administration and the
police at the grass roots must engage in a continuous dialogue with leaders,
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