Hyderabad: Govt adviser Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Saturday called for a united struggle to defend the constitutional and democratic rights of all vulnerable sections, saying the issues arising from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were affecting not only Muslims but also members of other communities.Speaking at a news conference organised to announce the “New Delhi Declaration on Assertion of Rights of Muslims in India” which was passed during the ‘National consultation on the current situation of Indian Muslims’ at the Constitution Club, New Delhi, Shabbir Ali said the fight against injustice must be collective and inclusive. The declaration was unanimously adopted on July 24.The national consultation was attended by former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, former Rajya Sabha member Mohammad Adeeb, former Union external affairs minister Salman Khurshid, Shabbir Ali, legal experts, scholars and representatives of the Muslim community.
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Shabbir Ali said religious scholars, Dalit leaders and representatives of various communities had come together to deliberate on the issues affecting the weaker sections. He said the objective was not to confine the campaign to Muslims but to protect the constitutional rights of every citizen facing discrimination or injustice.“This is not merely a fight for Muslims. It is a fight for Dalits, Sikhs, Christians and every other weaker section of people. Whenever injustice is committed against any citizen, we must stand together to defend constitutional rights,” he said.Referring to the SIR exercise, he alleged that names of both Muslims and non-Muslims were being deleted from electoral rolls and said every eligible voter deserved assistance, irrespective of religion or caste.The declaration adopted at the National Consultative Meeting contained eight resolutions addressing issues relating to constitutional rights, democratic institutions and minority concerns.The conference condemned the alleged use of excessive force by Delhi Police against students protesting over examination paper leaks and demanded an independent, time-bound judicial inquiry and registration of FIRs against those responsible. It also condemned the demolition order issued against buildings of Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, describing it as discriminatory and contrary to constitutional protections available to minority educational institutions. The conference demanded withdrawal of the demolition order and reconsideration of the matter under the applicable regularisation policy.The declaration criticised the demolition and sealing of mosques and dargahs under the pretext of encroachment. It called for an immediate halt to such actions and sought an independent review of demolitions already carried out.With regard to the Uniform Civil Code, the declaration maintained that any law compelling communities to abandon their religious practices would violate the constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and conscience, and resolved to oppose such measures through constitutional and legal means.The declaration also stated that copies of the resolutions would be sent to the President of India, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, presiding officers of the Parliament and the State Legislatures, and all recognised political parties.
