Ahmedabad, June 07: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) today assured the Christian community of recommending “action” if the Gujarat government conducts a survey of any Christian household or church causing harassment to the members. "We had a meeting with state chief secretary and home secretary who have assured us that no such survey was carried out in the state. But if any case of government knowingly conducting such survey on Christian household is reported, we will definitely recommend action", NCM chairman Tarlochan Singh told mediapersons here.
The commission, which is on a two-day visit to Gujarat, its first after assuming a new term in February, met various Christian community members and heard their representations.
Referring to the Anti-Conversion Bill, Singh said, "before the bill was passed, we urged the Gujarat government to eliminate the clause that made permission of district magistrate compulsory before converting to other religion".
"But the state assembly and parliament are independent to pass any bill and make it an act", he said.
On representations regarding certain "objectionable" portions in school textbooks of Gujarat, he said, "the NCM members will study them."
The Christian community also reportedly expressed resentment over Singh's reported statement supporting the VHP's Trishul Deeksha programme. However, Singh made it clear that the commission was totally against any "irritants" and "provocations" and that it had only expressed its "apprehensions" regarding the Hindu outfit's programme during its meeting with VHP's top brass on May 5.
Bureau Report