Indian state has not done enough for minorities: Vibhuti Narain

Aligarh: Notwithstanding the constitutional provisions of equality, the Indian state has not done enough to dispel insecurity from the minds of minorities as the most important symbol of the state – police – hardly enjoy the confidence of the Muslims, Christians and Sikhs, regretted Mr. Vibhuti Narain Rai, eminent writer and Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi International University, Wardha today.
Delivering first K. P. Singh memorial lecture on “State Response to Communalism”, Mr. Vibhuti Narain Rai, IPS, said that the minorities never consider the police as friend or protector. The police is seen as the oppressor and the police behavior in communal riots bear testimony to the fact. Quoting his well-documented research on the role of police in combating communalism, Mr. V. N. Rai said that the Muslims always suffered heavy loss in terms of lives and properties at the initial stages and subsequently they were killed in police firing and police also arrested more Muslims.
Debunking the myth that the Muslims start riots, Mr. Rai said he sifted through the police records and found that even the first hour of the riots, more Muslims were killed. It proves that it is wrong to say that the Muslims start riot and the police control the situation. He said if the state is firm, no riot could continue more than 24 hours. During the communal strife, police become perpetrator of violence and the state lack the will to curb it.
Tracing the history of communal riots, Mr. Rai said that the assassination of Gandhi put a full stop to riot and no major riot took place till 1961. After that riots occurred in regular intervals of two or three years. The police always behaved in partisan manner and it resulted lack of faith in police that also denotes lack of faith in the state which is very alarming. This calls for serious introspection, he said.
Paying glaring tributes to Professor K. P. Singh, Mr. Rai said that he was an avowed enemy of narrowmindness and communalism.
Recalling K. P. Singh’s contribution to literature, noted Urdu poet Shahryar said that Prof. Singh wanted literature to reflect social consciousness. He also recited a poem in memory of Prof. K. P. Singh.
Delivering the presidential address, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University said that Indian democracy has become more matured and now there is a considerable decrease in communal riots. He paid rich tributes to Prof. K. P. Singh who pledged his mortal remains to the Aligarh Muslim University for the medical students. Prof. Singh’s gesture was unparallel and the university will always remain grateful to him, he concluded.
Prof. V. K. Abdul Jaleel, Registrar of the University extended the vote of thanks. Prof. Imtiaz Hasnain and Dr. Ajay Bisaria also spoke on the occasion.