Minister vows efforts to pass bill on communal violence

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government will enact a comprehensive law to deal with communal violence besides ensuring adequate protection to the minorities.

"My ministry will make all efforts to ensure that the communal violence bill, which has been pending since the last government, is passed,'' minority affairs minister Salman Khursheed said.

The bill, in the wake of recent communal violence in Orissa and Karnataka, seeks to implement measures for prevention of acts leading to communal violence, enhance punishments and makes provisions for speedy investigation.

"The Bill has been under inter-ministerial consultation and dialogue. We will definitely make efforts to see that it is passed by this government as it is something that needs to be done. We are going to have detailed discussions with all the ministries concerned on the issue as it requires a combined effort," the newly elected minister was quoted saying.

Such a bill was from long anticipated by Christian leaders in India, baffled by several incidents of barbarous attacks carried by radical Hindu groups, mostly on baseless allegations.

Especially after the wave of violence in Orissa and Karnataka, the community had called upon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and members of the National Integration Council (NIC) to take political steps to curb hate crimes.

In a statement, top community leaders had suggested that Communal Violence Bill be enacted and also the government draft comprehensive relief and rehabilitation policies.

The Christian leaders also said that an Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) is created and "close monitoring of development plans" be done to promote communal harmony.

In this regard, Khursheed said EOC pending with the Centre was an "extremely promising step."

"It's an answer to the lot of the piecemeal efforts that we are making for empowerment. We are in process of active consultation with other ministries, other empowerment-related agencies," he added.

Meanwhile, on the issue of reservation for Dalit Christians and Muslims, Khursheed said, the quota was not the only solution to empowerment.

Although he said he would "examine the issue", the minister was tight-lipped on whether the new government will render an immediate solution to the concern of Dalit Christians and Muslims, who are yet to receive SC status even after the Mishra Commission recommended extending the reservation to all Dalits irrespective of religion.

Para 3 of the 1950 Constitutional order restricted SC privileges only to those who profess Hinduism. However, later it was amended to include Sikhs and Buddhists but not Christians and Muslims.

"Reservation is not the only answer to social welfare although it is definitely time-tested and popular answer for welfare and empowerment," Khursheed said.

The minister finally asserted that the new government was "committed to giving attention to the minorities."