RIYADH, 11 November — A major Indian non-governmental organization has announced plans to organize a caravan, which will crisscross India spreading the message of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood.
Organized by the Uttar Pradesh Rabita Committee (UPRC), the 10-day journey called “All India Sadbhavana-Shanti Caravan” will begin on Jan. 10 from New Delhi. “The caravan is one component of our campaign to establish communal harmony and peace in India”, remarked Amanullah Khan, organizer of the caravan, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia.
He said that the caravan, the first campaign of its kind to be organized after the recent Gujarat riots, seeks to ensure durable communal peace based on justice.
Spelling out the mission statement of caravan, Amanullah said that “we seek to promote tolerance and respect for all communities, religions and castes in India.” He lamented that “democracy is on the run in India at the moment, fascism is on the rampage, communalism is in the ascendant and secularism and liberalism are in total disarray.”
This unfortunate situation should not be allowed to continue, for it can erode faith in human values, said Amanullah, who has been holding talks with Saudi officials after attending the international conference organized by the Riyadh-based World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY).
He said the minorities in India are feeling unsafe and insecure and the majority is being misled by the triumph of extremism.
The caravan, he said, will also demand implementation of the report of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on “Prevention and Control of Communal Riots” submitted to the federal and state governments way back in March 1999.