The commission said that it should be the responsibility of citizens and society to disown and condemn the hate crimes done by anti-social and disgruntled elements beside the punitive action taken by Government as per law of land.

In view of its mandate, and, to protect and safeguard the interest of all Minorities, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) advised all the state governments and governments of union territories to hold “Sarv Dharma Meetings” with all communities at sub-divisional levels of the states at least once in a month and, also at district level, half yearly. This is being done to curb incidents of attacks/ hate crimes on minority communities, the NCM said in a media release.

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) formed under the NCM Act, 1992, has been mandated with the responsibility of safeguarding the interests of the minority communities. Besides the role, the NCM is also meant to undertake confidence building measures in light of the new and emerging challenges.

The commission stressed that incidents of attacks/ hate crimes result in bitterness and communal disharmony amongst communities as hate is caused by mental weakness and anger. The commission further said that every citizen have the right to follow and preach their own religion.

Moreover, the commission said, it should be the responsibility of citizens and society to disown and condemn the hate crimes done by anti-social and disgruntled elements beside the punitive action taken by Government as per the law of land. Authorities must evolve mechanisms, duly involving participation of civic society, to deter such anti-social, anti-national forces and to prevent occurrence of violence in the society.

States and UTs were also advised that the members of all communities i.e. Minority and Majority, representing Opinion Makers, NGOs, Religious Persons and Educationists, may be identified and involved in the ‘Sarv Dharma Samvad’ meetings.

Image: Countercurrents