APSMC proposes Bill to prevent atrocities against Minorities

Hyderabad, Dec 26 : The Andhra Pradesh State Minorities Commission has proposed a new law titled “The Minorities, Dalits and other Marginalized Sections (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2013″.

Commission’s Chairman Abid Rasool Khan told reporters on Thursday that the draft of the proposed Bill has been submitted to President of India Pranab Mukherjee for consideration. He said that since there has been considerable resistance to the proposed law to curb communal and targeted violence, the present proposal could effectively meet the needs of society till such time as an effective law on that subject could become enforceable, and even beyond.

Abid Rasool Khan said that Commission, which was re-constituted on May 16 this year, has received a number of petitions pertaining to the atrocities against and discrimination vis-a-vis the minorities in Andhra Pradesh especially amongst the Muslims and Christians. The Commission also observed that in some cases minorities are in fact discriminated against and atrocities committed on them; in some instances, there right to fully practice their religion as safeguarded by our Constitution is being infringed by communal elements.

“It is observed that elements disruptive of harmony in society have become active in Andhra Pradesh, trying to establish their dominance and instill fear in the minorities in a planned and phased manner creating situations where the minorities are sought to be intimidated, possibly as a prelude to actual assault both physical as well as psychological,” Abid Rasool Khan said in his representation to the President.

Abid Rasool Khan informed that the Commission had assigned Advocate Shafeeq Rehman Mahajir, who had earlier been associated with drafting of the law on equal opportunities and the law against communal and targeted violence, and had made a number of suggestions towards amending of the legislation on Wakfs, to prepare a bill which the Commission has examined, discussed and considers worth recommendation for being approved and enacted into a law, inasmuch as the advocate has modelled it along the lines of the existing statute operating to prevent atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, as he had been requested to.

The Commission has requested the President to forward the Bill, as presented if that be deemed fit, or as may be further strengthened or modified as deemed proper, to the Government of Andhra Pradesh with suitable recommendations for enactment as law, so as to safeguard the minorities’ rights. INN