Bangalore:
The Indian League for Minorities, inaugurated at Patna on March 31, 1982 has adopted the following declaration which is fully in agreement with the policies of the Dalit Voice. The declaration was approved at a meeting of the ILM in Delhi on June 12. The Indian League for Minorities has expressed concern over the growing tensions, disharmony and hatred among the different communities. The Constitution has, however, guaranteed equality to all citizens irrespective of their caste, creed. culture and language and also safeguarded the interests of the weaker sections. But unfortunately, its implementation has not been just and equitable as envisaged by the Constitution. The ILM, therefore, recommended a permanent and autonomous authority to be established by law to look after the interests of the persecuted minorities and the Dalits, to implement and work as a watchdog against the excesses or failures of the Executive or other agencies. The ILM asked the persecuted minorities and the Dalits to get rid of their fear of being less in number. The religious minorities together with the Dalits and tribes constitute over 40% of the whole population. The percentage of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) comes to 52%. The women, to whichever community or caste they belong are counted among the weaker sections. All these sections of the society are suppressed by a microscopic minority. The ILM will help the Dalits and persecuted minorities to identify their common Enemy. Once they identify the Enemy the exploited communities will come to know that they are not a minority but a majority and a great force which no caste or community will be able to ignore, howsoever powerful it may be. The problems of minorities is a world problem. However, the problem in our country is different and hence the solution must also be different. It is with this perspective that the problems of persecuted minorities and Dalits are taken together in our Constitution. The problem is not only of being economically backward but of being socially treated as inferior and with contempt. The ILM shall adopt effective measures when communal tensions break out, but more than that it shall work out preventive measures in order to foster national integration and harmony. ILM is non-political. It will have friendly relations with the International League of Minorities which has a consultative status with Human Rights Commission of the UNO. ILM will not shut its eyes to the problems of minorities of the coloured peoples in whichever part of the world they may be. It would make common cause with the oppressed minorities throughout the world. We appeal to the people to come forward and work for the cause of the minorities and the Dalits. Please write to :-
Indian League for Minorities
No. 2. Mahadeva Road,
New Delhi-110 001 (India)
