RIYADH, 12 February 2007 — A senior Indian parliamentarian has called for efforts to include Muslims in mainstream Indian society that would address the inequities experienced by them.
K. Rahman Khan, deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha, said that this could be achieved “when the importance of Muslims as an intrinsic part of the diverse Indian social mosaic is squarely recognized.”
Rahman Khan, who is accompanying Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee in a delegation visiting the Kingdom, was speaking at a community reception. On the third day of their visit yesterday, Somnath and Rahman Khan met Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal.
The reception hosted by the Indian community on Saturday was also attended by Indian MPs Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Furqan Ansari.
In his speech, Rahman Khan called for the adoption of “suitable mechanisms to ensure equity and equality of opportunity to Muslims in residential, work and educational spaces.” He supported calls for the establishment of an Equal Opportunity Commission modeled on the UK Race Relations Act, 1976.
Shahnawaz Hussain said: “Muslims of India should not wait for a leadership that could raise the wilting community to a dignified status, rather they should unify their ranks and put exerted efforts.”
He said that the Sachar Committee report has shown the gray areas and that there are other fields where Muslims stand equal with their Hindu counterparts.
The delegation ends its visit to Riyadh tomorrow.
