Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: The 21st meeting of General Council of the National Foundation for Communal Harmony was held at Union Capital under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Speaking on the occasion, Home Minister said that India has always remained a tolerant and a peaceful country to give shelter to all the victims of religious bigotry as well as other persecuted ethnic groups throughout the world and allowed them to practise their respective religious beliefs.
“In response they too have in their own way contributed for the advancement of the Indian culture in every sphere of life”, he said, adding “peace in the society is the main factor for the development of the country and making her a strong nation”.
He assured that more Government assistance both monetarily and administratively would be provided so that mislead youth of the country and other members of the society are engaged in the nation building. He particularly named Jammu and Kashmir which is at the top of communal disharmony followed by other States.
“Jammu and Kashmir is at the top to receive the financial help from NFCH for the victims of communal violence and large numbers of student community are receiving education and scholarships”, he further said while assuring more support to the State.
Justice (Retd) G D Sharma representing the State of Jammu and Kashmir gave a detailed history accompanied by documentary evidence showing thereby how Jehadi elements had succeeded in high-jacking the recognized religious, harmonious culture of the State at the behest of inimical foreign hands and assisted by local elements.
“The then people at the helm of Governance had failed in dealing with them in accordance with the law of land. Rather, in some cases they encouraged the Jehadi elements for vote bank gains”, he said and spelled out 14 specified cases mentioned in the record which was submitted to the Home Minister.
One case pertained to Jehadi attack on Raghunath Mandir in the city of Jammu. The other case was specified in the meeting regarding the massacre of family members of armed forces in Kaluchak military residential area. “The sanctioned for the prosecution of the named persons was intentionally withheld in order to enable the accused to get bails from the trial court. Similar practice was adopted in the remaining twelve specified cases pending before the trial court”, he added.
He also brought to the notice of the dignitaries representing the whole country how Islamic Jehadi courts were established in the rural areas of the Kashmir valley where the writ of the courts and the power of police were not reaching to them during the hay days of the militancy.
“With a humane approach which was adopted towards legal fraternity as well as extending personal dealings with the anti-national elements by giving them true justice in accordance with law, to a greater extent their hearts were won over and confidence was restored in bringing on rails the beleaguered judicial system”, Justice Sharma said.
Justice Sharma also personally appealed to religious leaders to make an effort as large number of Kashmiri society believe in peace, love and affection and they are very much cooperative by accepting that all human beings as the children of the same God.
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