Say“No” to Vibrant Gujarat Summit (2019),state government has not done much for minorities
By Abdul hafiz lakhani Gandhinagar
The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) has threatened to oppose Vibrant Gujarat Summit as Gujarat government is not giving any attention to minority related issues of the state.
Addressing a press conference, convener of MCC Mr. Mujaheed NAFFES Said emphatically that The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) is attempting to have dialogue with the government of Gujarat for the rights of minority community in the state for previous two years, but the chief Minister of Gujarat has failed to meet the people and address their issues while he is indulged in gimmicks such as Vibrant Gujarat Summit.
As we all are aware that India has signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration of the Rights of Persons related to Minorities, International Conventions of the United Nations (Sustainable Development Goals), according to which the government has to work, but The Gujarat government is violating all these agreements, even though they have invited international guests, without any shame, to participate in Vibrant Gujarat Summit.
The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) will strongly protest against the Vibrant Gujarat Summit and in that effect will write letters to the Embassies of all the countries coming to the summit, appealing to the Governments to held accountable the State of Gujarat for the violation of international treaties. And boycott Vibrant Summit if the government still failed to adhere to the laws laid down in the above PROTEST, mentioned treaties., he further said.
Demands for the development and protection of minorities in Gujarat;
1. Establishment of Minorities Ministry of Minorities in the State
2. Allocation in budget for the development of Minorities
3. Minority Commission should be constituted in the state by enacting law in legislative assembly.
4. Opening of government Higher Secondary schools in Minority populated areas
5. Madarsa degree should be recognized as equivalent to Gujarat Board
6. Special Package for the upliftment of Minorities
7. Form a policy for the rehabilitation of displaced people affected by communal violence
8. Full Implementation of Prime Minister’s 15 Point program
All the above mentioned demands are constitutional and the state is bound by the international treaties to meet those demands.
Mr Nafees added that Article 14, 15 (2), 15 (4), 16 (1), 16 (2), 16 (4), 25 (1), 26, 27, 28, 29 (1), 29 (2) , 30 (1,30 (2), 347, 350 (A), 350 (B), 37, 38 (2), 46,51 (A), 51 (C) of the Constitution of India, clearly states that the state will not discriminate against any citizens on the basis of religion, ethnicity, caste, gender, birthplace or any of these. State will special arrangement for the development of backward classes, protect the interests of minorities, their distinct language, script or culture, their right to maintain and preserve their distinct culture. There are provisions for the appointment of special packages for the provision of educational facilities in their mother tongue at the primary level for linguistic minorities.
MCC will write letters to the Embassies of all the countries that will be coming to this summit, the Prime Minister of India, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and will apprise them of the violations of Sustainable Development Goals and The Constitution of India and ask them not to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit until the state of Gujarat adhere to the Constitution and international treaties. even if this discriminatory exploitation does not end, if our constitutional demands are not met, then we will demonstrate and oppose the inauguration on Vibrant Gujarat Summit and Prime Minister on 17th and 18th January 2019 and will tell the whole world about the status of minorities in Gujarat, he concluded .
