Date: 21 December, 2025
The leaders of various religions on the ocassion of the World Minority Rights Day addressed a seminar organized by the Delhi Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat, reiterating their resolve to unite and struggle together for justice and rights of the minorities.
As long as the rule of law is not established and courts do not function properly, neither the rights of minorities nor anyone else’s can be secured said the leading human rights activist, prominent Christian leader, and Supreme Court advocate P. I. Jose while addressing the seminar on the occasion of International Minority Rights Day.
Addressing the participants he said that today millions of people are working on contract basis in the country.
No one is concerned about what will happen to the next generation of these poor people. We must change our priorities, and today the biggest priority is the restoration of democracy and fundamental right to survive.
Emphasizing on employment opportunities to be given to the poor and those living at the lowest echelons of the society, Mr. Jose said said that fifteen thousand rupees were allocated from the government account for a driver, but he received only three thousand rupees.
The President of the All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat, Feroze Ahmed, Advocate, said that by creating fear of minorities, the rights of Dalits are being taken away the most, but unfortunately Dalit leaders are playing into their hands. He said that weakening the representation of minorities and the strength of their votes has become a blot on India’s forehead, whereas around the world those countries are considered more democratic where minority rights are more secure. He said that we must always keep in mind what is in the national interest, and violence should be avoided at all costs as this is most damaging for the country and society including its unity. One person is undertaking a march with the slogan of majoritarianism” but what are the government agencies doing to punish them as this is the country with diverse cultures, religions and traditions believing in Unity in Diversity, enshrined in our sacred constitution ?
Earlier, Dr. Ratan Lal, a faculty member in the Department of History at Delhi University, delivered the keynote address of the seminar and raised serious questions about the problems of minorities in India. He asked how a community that ruled for 670 years became a minority. He said that kings built grand forts, magnificent buildings, and palaces here; their descendants are nowhere to be seen, but those who were their courtiers and officials today own palaces, forts, mansions, and five-star hotels. Referring to the simplicity of Dalits, he urged Muslim leadership to work toward Dalit–Muslim unity. He recalled the benevolence of the Nizam of Hyderabad toward Dalits and encouraged today’s Minority community to act with the same generosity with which the Nizam of Hyderabad helped Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. He said that the elite class which once kept 85 percent of the country’s population enslaved still continues to oppress them today, and everyone must unite to free themselves from its dominance.
The President of the All India Peace Mission, Sardar Diya Singh, said that the renowned freedom fighter Sardar Hukam Singh used to say that in the freedom struggle, only Sikhs and Muslims stood with Gandhiji; they alone made sacrifices for independence, and as long as Sikhs and Muslims are in this country, there is no threat to its freedom and secularism. He said that today there is a need for all of us to unite. He said that the struggle will have to be carried out together. This country is ours, and we alone will save it.
The seminar began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Maulana Azhar Madani and concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Idrees Qureshi, President of the Delhi Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat.
Thanking the guests, he said that the government should open its eyes and ears and see and hear what people are saying. Earlier, members of the presidium—Feroze Ahmed, Advocate; Yamin Qureshi, Mushtaq Ahmed, Abdul Rashid and Syed Mansoor Agha presented mementos and shawls to the guests.
By Dr. Idrish Qureshi
