Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about inclusive development, the BJP's ideological ally Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) demanded that the minority commission be scrapped.
International joint general secretary of the VHP, Dr Surendra Jain, told THE WEEK on Monday that “minoritism” was becoming a curse. He pointed out that in a ruling, a few years before, the Supreme Court had expressed hope that the minority commission would bring an end to such a trend.
Jain, who was in Gujarat to attend the two-day governing council meeting of the VHP, said it was ironic that the minority commission issued a helpline as if to suggest that atrocities on minorities were on the rise. He even alleged that the commission had failed to protect the rights of other minorities.
According to him, it was also the view point of RSS and the BJP. “We are not giving any timeline,” he said, adding that if scrapping of the minority commission was not possible, then a majority commission should be set up. National Human Rights Commission, he said, was enough to protect and safeguard the rights of all citizens of India.
He pointed out that when Pakistan defeated India in the Champions Trophy, Pakistani flags were waved in the Kashmir valley.
The meeting took stock of the situation in different parts of the country, including West Bengal. The participants also expressed reservation on levying of 18 per cent GST on items required for worship in temples.