Vice President calls for legislation to protect minorities

Vice President of India, M. Hamid Ansari, addressing the Annual Conference of State Minorities Commissions, expressed concern over the rights of minorities, and the need for a legislation to protect them from atrocities.

"Ours is a land whose diversity includes religious minorities. Every sixth Indian is in this category. In absolute terms, it amounts to almost 200 million people," he said, adding "In law, they are beneficiary of all rights; in fact, deprivation exists and has been acknowledged. This has impacted on the overall progress of the country."

He stressed on the need "to redress grievances", which he said due to "lack of will, and tardy responses, from the concerned state agencies," has made the Commission ineffective.

Suggesting, a law to prevent atrocities on minorities, Ansari said, "The option of a legislation similar to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act can be explored for the minorities."

He urged the setting up of "Diversity Commission and Diversity Implementation Boards as institutional mechanisms for affirmative action and policy targeting."

"Rights of minorities have acquired renewed salience in the last two decades. The 'Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities' adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1992 noted that minorities 'contribute to the political and social stability of States in which they live' and that promotion of minority rights would contribute to the strengthening of friendship and cooperation among peoples and States."

"The expectation from citizens belonging to minority communities, indeed from all citizens, is clear – to focus on socio-economic and political outcomes that embody the letter and spirit of our Constitution," he concluded.