Dinesh Kamath's editorial (Stop using the word ‘minorities’) that was published in Newsband

Stop using the word ‘minorities’

The use of the word 'minorities' is more damaging than anything else. We are all equal citizens of this country. Why this distinction as minorities? Let each one contribute to the growth of the nation according to his or her might.

It is evident that vested powers inside/outside the country are responsible for this. It will be a sad day indeed if people form one part of the country feels insecure in another part. This is against the spirit of the constitution which guarantees freedom of movement. Government must leave no stone unturned to assure that every community is safe in any part of the country.

Now a days, in addition to perceiving the others purely in terms of caste, religion, ethnicity and nation, which is responsible for many of the ongoing conflicts worldwide, now the 'globalised' world is moving towards creating conflicts because of the 'perceived outsiders'. Discrimination is made between the ‘perceived outsiders and 'perceived insiders' or the self-proclaimed 'sons of the soil'.

Humans went as immigrants to every corner of the globe and survived somehow. They have been squeezed dry for a pittance by those who bought their labor. Today the chauvinistic attitude displayed by some wily minded politicians and their goons is creating this havoc.

Need of the hour is that the peace loving citizens from all the communities come forward and appeal for harmony. At the same time police should zero in the culprits who are spreading the panic and take strict action against them.

The Constitutional right to settle anywhere in India has been violated because of lack of faith in law and order, justice, safety and police. After 65 years of independence, we see the same situation on railway stations of metro-cites as in 1947. So very clearly, it exposes the failure of the government of India in providing safe milieu for the citizens of india.

There is an urgent need to provide safety to migrants and minorities anywhere in India. Otherwise the unity and integrity of the country is in danger. Muslims, Hindus, Christians, call them by any religion, they have been living together as one and in fact even praying in places of worship together. Let it remain so.

‘Rumours’ have always been one of the major catalysts for causing unrest. Few people driven by vengeance and led by religious leaders plan these things. There is a need to identify such psychopaths through social networking sites or through tracking of numbers. And the authorities need to ensure that people of every ethnic group are safe. Wicked minded people should not be allowed to manipulate the situation and play with the integrity of our country.