Reservations must for Dalit Muslims & Dalit Christians: NCM Study

NEW DELHI – December, 15: – An independent research study commissioned by the National Commission for Minorities finds that there is a strong case for offering Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians the same constitutional safeguards already available to Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist Dalits. After a comprehensive survey of the available social scientific literature on the status of Muslim and Christian Dalits, the study concludes that they continue to be subjected to discriminatory and exclusionary practices, including untouchability, even though such prejudice receives no doctrinal support in either Islam or Christianity. However, the forms and intensity of the social humiliation they suffer differ from those faced by their counterparts in other religions.

The study was conducted by Professor Satish Despande of the Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi over an eight month period. The study breaks new ground in analysing the latest available statistical data from the National Sample Survey Organisation's 61st Round survey of 2004-05. The data shows that Muslim Dalits are generally the worst off among all Dalits by most economic and educational criteria. Christian Dalits, too, lag far behind non-Dalit and specially upper caste Christians.

Despite their small population and hence relatively low representation in the sample survey, the data unambiguously establish the backwardness of Muslim and Christian Dalits by the common criteria of human development. In fact, the statistical analysis demonstrates that religious affiliation makes no difference for the poorest 75% of all Dalits, with only the top 25% showing some differentiation.

This study is specially relevant in the context of the judiciary's frequent demand for objective evidence when deciding petitions seeking extension of constitutional protections to Muslim and Christian Dalits. It makes it amply clear that there are no good reasons – moral, logical, empirical or practical to keep Muslim and Christian Dalits out ofthe Scheduled Castes category. (Writer-South Asia)

CIA agents killed Benazir: War

CIA agents killed Benazir: War

PPP Celebrates Benazir’s Second Death Anniversary

Srinagar, 27 December, 09: The Second death anniversary of former Pakistani Prime Minister and former Chairperson of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed is observed throughout the globe. A large number of PPP party workers, office bearers and supporters from every nook and corner of the country are reaching Bhutto's home town Naudero in southern Sindh province to attend the anniversary. Great enthusiasm is being witnessed among the fans and followers of Bhutto’s in Kashmir at PPP Headquarters.

If  Asif Ali Zardari , President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan  truly loved Benazir Bhutto and mourn her death in true spirit, then he must pledge not to support  the International Agencies who have masterminded the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and Judicial murder of Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto and must follow the principles and ideals of  Z.A. Bhutto . He must also follow the Foreign Policy followed Kashmir Policy of Z.A. Bhutto the founder of  PPP.

On the Second Death Anniversary of late Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, a function was organized at PPP headquarters, Rajbag, Srinagar, Kashmir and rich tributes were paid to Late Benazir Bhutto who died when a bomb planted in her cavalcade went off. “The function was presided over by Er.Hilal Ahmed War,Chairman, People’s Political Party ( PPP)  who is also the founder Chairman of  Bhutto Memorial Trust (BMT).
 
Special and important aspects of political life of Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto were highlighted. All the members unanimously and strongly condemned all those conspirators who were directly or indirectly responsible for the gruesome and barbaric murder of Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto,” said the statement.

People’s Political Party, Chairman, Hilal Ahmad War alleged Benazir Bhutto and her father were eliminated at the behest of “American intelligence agency CIA as the two leaders were opposed to the US policy of making Pakistan a satellite state for carrying out its plans”.Benazir’s killing is part of the policy of the US to disintegrate Pakistan into four independent states”. “US was creating atmosphere in which it can give good reason for the takeover of nuclear arsenal of Pakistan,” he claimed.

The leaders of PPP and BMT  unanimously appealed to the people of Pakistan that they should rise above regional, racial and ethnic prejudices and considerations and unite together whole heartedly in the direction of national and emotional integration because “such a course only can save Pakistan from external conspiracies aimed at disintegrating the country once again like December 1971”.
 

“The speakers emphasized that the concept of ‘Greater Pakistan’ floated by Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto and his Kashmir Policy for realization of right of self-determination for struggling people of J & K were and are the source of inspiration for the political and armed activists of Kashmir Liberation Movement . The participants also disfavoured and disapproved the proposed idea of showing any flexibility by Govt. of Pakistan with regard to settlement of Kashmir dispute, as such a flexibility is bound to cause irreparable damage to Kashmir cause and shall adversely affect Kashmir liberation movement .After conclusion of speeches delivered by various participants, special prayers (fateha khwani) were held for peace and comfort of the souls of Z.A.Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. (Writer-South Asia)