Minorities safe: Jethmalani

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 28. The Union Law Minister, Mr. Ram Jethmalani on Thursday asserted that the rights of the minorities were well protected and the Government would not allow them to be tampered with.

Speaking at a seminar here on `Post-Independence Economic and Educational Scenario of Minorities', Mr. Jethmalani allayed the fears over the commission to review the Constitution and assured the minorities that its suggestions, if any, would only strengthen and not dilute the constitutional guarantees and safeguards for them.

The Minister said the minorities had not lost their faith in themselves as the judiciary was honest. The safeguards under Article 14 (equality before law) and Article 29 (safeguards for minorities) stood as a bulwark for secularism, cultural pluralism and religious diversities.

Referring to the social and economic backwardness of the Muslims, Mr. Jethmalani said the plight of the minorities had worsened during the nearly 50-year rule by the Congress.

The day-long seminar was attended by eminent personalities from various fields, Muslim clerics, intellectuals, social workers and mediapersons.

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Section  : National
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