Identity, security, education, empowerment and a fair share in decision-making are the key issues India’s Muslims are facing, vice-president Hamid Ansari has said. He added the problems of exclusion and discrimination they are confronted with have to be corrected by the state.
He also cited the official objective of “sab ka sath, sab ka vikas” (with everyone, for everyone’s growth), calling it commendable and added a pre-requisite for this is “affirmative action” to ensure a common starting point and ability in all to walk at the required pace.
The vice-president was speaking at the inauguration of the All India Majlis-e-Mushawarat Golden Jubilee in Delhi.
Tracing the condition of Muslims since Independence and the work in the past decade to delineate the contours of the problem, Ansari said studies bring forth sufficient evidence to substantiate the view that “inequality traps prevent the marginalised and work in favour of the dominant groups in society”.
“It is evident from the compendium of official reports that the principal problems confronting India’s Muslims relate to: identity and security; education and empowerment; equitable share in the largesse of the state; and fair share in decision making.
The vice-president said deprivation, exclusion and discrimination (including failure to provide security) is to be corrected by the state; this needs to be done at the earliest and appropriate instruments developed for it.
He said that exclusion and discrimination including failure to provide security to Muslims has to be corrected by the State at the earliest and appropriate instruments developed for it.
Extremist Hindu Organisation, Vishwa Hindu Parishad strongly reacted to the remarks of Vice President Hamid Ansari, alleging it was a “political” and “communal” statement which did not befit the dignity of his office.
The Hindutva organisation said such a demand seeks to “push Muslims in dark alleys of dissatisfaction whose consequences will be dangerous.
“With due respect to the Vice President’s chair, VHP condemns this rank communal statement. This is a political statement…. which does not befit the office of a Vice President,” VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain said.
Jain said Ansari should apologize for his “unfortunate” statement.