All India Milli Council is a common national platform of the Muslims of India and is rendering valuable services for the unity and solidarity of the nation. It has always played a positive and active role in strengthening the democratic values in our country, awakening public opinion against fascist tendencies and creating an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect among different Communities of the country. Its activities are ongoing in all States, Cities and Villages of the country. The Milli Council has made all-out efforts to awaken political and social consciousness among Muslims and to keep them aware of the complexities and vicissitudes of the situation and provide proper guidance.
All are aware that the 18th General Elections of the country are going to be held in the months of April and May this year i.e., 2024. Everyone is well aware of the socio-political scenario of the country today. The situation is that for the last 9 years, democracy and the secular character of the country are being attacked and the clouds of fear and danger are hovering over the country from all directions. As a result of an ill-conceived plan, the country’s minorities, particularly Muslims, other deprived sections and those sections of the society who should have got a proper share in the overall development of the country are under the spell of despair and deprivation. The situation has been made in such a way that we cannot even dare to put our demands before the government. Within the country, those who should have received a share proportionate to their population, are being attacked from all sides.
In view of this and a similar scenario, an extraordinary meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of the Milli Council was held in Mumbai on 15-16 January 2024 and in the context of the upcoming general elections, the Office Bearers of the Milli Council issued a comprehensive “Charter of Demands”. The draft of the demands was finalized with their joint struggle and mutual consultation. With the support of all the participants of the meeting, this Charter of Demands is being made public in front of the media in today’s state meeting, which has also been presented to the heads of all secular political parties / alliances, so that the said Charter of Demands is taken up by the respective political parties and they can make it a part of their election manifesto and their attitude towards the second largest majority within the country as well as the deprived sections should be so positive that they definitely take the initiative to include them in the overall development of the country irrespective of religion, caste and gender.
It should be noted that in the said Charter of Demands contain:
Under Development Affairs, Implementation of recommendations of Sachar Committee Report and Justice Ranganath Commission treport, establishment of Equal Opportunity Commission, proportional representation of minorities in all government institutions and establishment of single window system and green channel for implementation of government schemes.
Regarding the protection of waqf properties, effective implementation of the Waqf Act 1995, all encroachments on the Waqf properties should be cleared and the said properties be handed over to the Waqf Board. The system of nominating elected representatives (MLAs, MLCs, MPs, local bodies members) and government officials should be abolished and all members of the Waqf Board should be elected from the Muslim community as a whole.
With regard to issues related to security, withdrawal of amendments made to UAPA Act at various stages, repeal of CAA and IFSPA, revival of IMDT Act, 1983, restoration of CrPc, IPC and Evidence Act by withdrawing the recently enacted Bharatiya Nagarak Suraksha Samhita, Bharatiya Nyyaa Samhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Samhita by the Central Govt, and Section 124A of Ipe should be repealed thereof.
Under communal riots and atrocities against religious minorities, Legislation of “Communal Violence Bill” 2011, implementation of “Protection of Minorities Act” modeled on “Prevention of Atrocities Act”. For incidents of mob violence (lynching), State administrations should be held accountable, and Section 103 (2) of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, 2023, which prescribes death or life imprisonment with fine for perpetrators of mob lynching, should be given a separate legal status and its implementation should be ensured in real sense.
Provision of judicial powers to Minorities Commission.
There are demands for representation in various departments, ensuring proportional appointments of minorities under special recruitment drives in all central and state investigative and secret agencies. A comprehensive reservation law should be enacted, so that the marginalized sections of the society get proportionate representation in education and public jobs. Amendments should be brought to the 1950 Presidential Order in relation to SCs and STs, so as to remedy the discrimination against minorities, especially Muslims and Christians, on religious grounds.
Regarding educational issues, reservation for minorities in educational institutions, giving new life to the National Commission for Minority Education, setting up of residential schools for minorities in blocks with minority concentration on the lines of Navodaya Vidyalaya, proportionate reservation in government and government alded educational institutions to the minorities. The quality of educational institutions should be restored, which have been specially established for the minorities and other weaker sections, including the establishment of permanent skill universities for the minorities and other issues.
Apart from these, public health, cultural affairs, development and protection of national and minority languages, issues related to women, approval of various demands of the farmers, establishment of a separate ministry for the protection of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and other issues are also included in this Charter of Demands.
We hope that the media, with its journalistic responsibilities will play their sensitive role in bringing, in putting these demands of the Milli Council before the Political Parties to include them in their Election Manifesto by presenting it to all political parties.
The above statements were released in press conference held at Press club of Bengaluru, by Syed Shafiullah, Political Secretary with All India Milli Council members.
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