The problems of religious minorities in India
India is a multi-lingual and multi-religious country. Indian society is pluralistic in character from the religious and other points of view. For a very long time, people belonging to various religious communities have been living together in this country.
Though the majority of the people living in this land are Hindus [82.41%], people belonging to other religious communities such as Muslims [11.67%], Christians [2.32%], Sikhs [2%], Buddhists [0.77%], Jains [0.41%] and others [O.43%] are also living along with the Hindus by enjoying on par similar rights and opportunities. By virtue of their numerical strength, the Hindus constitute the majority while the rest of the religious communities come under what is known as “religious minorities”.
The major problems of minorities in India:
In spite of the provisions of constitutional equality, religious minorities in India, often experience some problems among which the following may be noted.
The problem of Providing Protection:
The minorities felt the need for security and protection, especially in times of communal violence, caste conflicts, observance of festivals and religious functions on a mass scale. Minority groups often seek police protection. Government who are in power also finds it difficult to provide such protection to all the members of the minorities and Government fail to provide such protection are always criticized.
For example, (i) the Rajiv Gandhi Government was severely criticized for its failure to give protection to the Sikh community in the Union Territory of Delhi on the eve of the communal violence that broke out there soon after the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984. (ii) The Gujarat State Government was criticized for its inability to provide protection to the Muslim minorities in the recent [Feb. Mar. – 2002] communal violence that burst out. (iii) Similarly, the Government of Jammu-Kashmir’s inefficiency in providing adequate security to the Hindu and Sikh minorities in that State against the atrocities of Muslim extremists is also widely condemned.
The problem of Communal Tensions and Riots:
Communal tensions and riots have been incessantly increasing since independence. Whenever communal tensions and riots take place for whatever reason, minority interests get threatened; fears and anxieties become widespread. It becomes a tough task for the government in power to restore the confidence in them.
The problem of Lack of Representation in Civil Service and Politics:
Though the Constitution provides for equality and equal opportunities to all its citizens including the religious minorities, the biggest minority community, that is, Muslims in particular, have not availed themselves of these facilities. There is a feeling among them that they are neglected.
However, such a feeling does not seem to exist among the other religious minority communities such as the Christians, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, for they seem to be economically and educationally better than the majority community.
Problem of Separatism:
Some of the demands put forward by some religious communities in some areas are not acceptable to others. This has widened the gap between them and others.
For examples, The separatist tendency present among some Muslim extremists in Kashmir and their demand for the establishment of Independent Kashmir is not acceptable to others. Similarly, some of the Christian extremists in Nagaland and Mizoram are demanding separate statehood for their provinces. Both these errands are supportive of “separatism” and hence cannot be accepted. Such a demand is regarded as anti-national.
Failure to Stick on Strictly to Secularism:
India has declared itself as a “secular” country. The very spirit of our Constitution is secular. Almost all political parties including the Muslim League claim themselves to be secular. But in actual practice, no party is honest in its commitment to secularism; purely religious issues are often politicized by these parties.
Similarly, secular issues and purely law and order problems are given religious colours. These parties are always waiting for an opportunity to politicise communal issues and take political advantage out of them. Hence, the credibility of these parties in their commitment to secularism is lost. This has created suspicion and feeling of insecurity in the minds of minorities.
Problem Relating to the Introduction of Common Civil Code:
Social equality is possible only when a common civil code is enforced throughout the nation. Some communities, particularly the Muslims oppose it. They argue that the imposition of a common civil code, as it is opposed to the “Shariat” will take away their religious freedom. This issue has widened the gap between the religious communities.
It is to be noted that communal disturbances, religious conflicts, group clashes are taking place frequently in India. In spite of these disturbances, the nation has maintained its secular character for the past 55 years. Further, the government has been making special efforts to safeguard the interests of religious minorities. The Governmental made efforts in promoting the welfare of the minorities.
Post a Comment