On Minority Rights Day, communities call for justice and restoration of constitutional safeguards
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Despite constitutional guarantees and government pledges, India’s minority communities continue to raise concerns over increasing discrimination, reduced support for welfare programmes, and growing threats to their religious freedoms. Observing Minority Rights Day on Wednesday (December 18), minority leaders and activists demanded urgent government action to uphold their constitutional rights and end discriminatory practices.
According to the United Nations, minorities are communities that lack social, political, and economic dominance and are smaller in population within a country. In India, five religious groups — Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Parsis — were granted minority status with the formation of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) in 1992. Jains were later included in 2014. These six communities constitute 19.3 per cent of the population, according to the 2011 Census.
The idea of establishing the NCM originated in 1978 with a resolution by the Ministry of Home Affairs, highlighting the persistent sense of inequality among minorities despite constitutional protections. The commission was formally launched in 1992, aiming to ensure the implementation of safeguards for minorities and monitor the impact of government policies.
The commission’s mandate includes reviewing the development of minorities, addressing specific complaints regarding their rights, and investigating cases of communal violence. Yet, minorities argue that the effectiveness of these measures remains limited.
Members of minority communities report feeling increasingly marginalised. A prominent issue is the discontinuation of vital educational and welfare schemes, such as the Maulana Azad Fellowship and the Pre-Matric Scholarship. The budget of the Ministry of Minority Affairs has also been drastically reduced, leaving many in the minority community feeling abandoned.
“The abrupt discontinuation of scholarships has shattered the dreams of countless students who rely on them,” said Abdul Wahid, a student activist from Hyderabad. “Without these resources, many of us cannot continue our education, which is a fundamental right.”
Community leader and social activist Anwar Qureshi echoed these concerns, saying, “Minorities are losing their constitutional rights both on paper and in practice. The rollback of scholarships and reduction of funds directly impacts the social and educational development of the already disadvantaged groups.”
Activists and community members are demanding stricter implementation of Articles 25, 29, and 30 of the Constitution, which guarantee religious freedom and the rights of minorities to preserve their culture, language, and educational institutions.
“The government must stop symbolic gestures and take concrete steps to ensure minority rights are not just theoretical,” said Sister Maria Joseph, a representative from the Christian Welfare Society. “Minorities face increasing harassment, and the silence from the authorities is deafening.”
Prominent Muslim cleric Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali added, “The government must prioritise the constitutional rights of minorities to promote equality and social harmony. This is not a favour, it is their obligation.”
The NCM continues to handle complaints regarding police atrocities, encroachment on minority properties, and religious rights violations. However, many complainants argue that the commission’s recommendations often fail to translate into tangible action.
“We approach the commission hoping for justice, but the responses from the authorities remain superficial,” said Arif Ansari, a teacher from Uttar Pradesh whose case has been pending for over a year. “The perpetrators of communal violence often go unpunished, and this emboldens them further.”
Minority groups emphasise that the government must prioritise their constitutional rights to promote equality and social harmony. They have urged authorities to restore discontinued schemes, allocate sufficient resources to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and take strict action against those violating minority rights.
Speaking on the matter, John D’Souza, a member of the National Christian Federation, said, “The ruling party must recognise that without accountability and strict measures against offenders, minority communities will continue to live in fear and insecurity.”
Echoing this sentiment, Anjum Ara, a women’s rights activist, said, “We have been patient, but our patience is running out. Minorities want only what is rightfully theirs under the Constitution. We will not remain silent anymore.”
The Minority Rights Day serves as a reminder of the promises made to India’s minorities. But, the gap between rhetoric and reality continues to widen. While the government cites secularism as a cornerstone of its governance, minority communities argue that their rights are increasingly being trampled upon. Their demands for justice, equality, and action remain a pressing call to uphold the nation’s secular and democratic values.
