India's Legal System Actively Safeguards Minority Rights: Khalid Naveed Calls for Balanced Narrative
Mahbubnagar: Highlighting that India's legal system is actively safeguarding the rights of minorities, social activist, Khalid Naveed, who is also President of Youth Welfare organisation, in Mahbubnagar, has called for a more accurate and balanced portrayal of the condition of Indian Muslims, urging both domestic and international observers to move beyond alarmist narratives.
In a press statement on Tuesday, Khalid expressed concern over misleading information flooding the international media and emphasized the need to counter misleading portrayals by certain international media outlets and human rights organizations, which he said paint an exaggeratedly grim picture of Muslim safety in India.
"Is it really that bad?" Naveed asked, pointing to a host of legal, governmental, and civil mechanisms that actively protect minority rights in India. He cited high-profile legal actions against hate speech as strong evidence of India's commitment to rule of law and secular values.
He highlighted the cases of Yati Narsinghanand and Maharashtra MLA Nitesh Rane, where law enforcement agencies acted swiftly against communal incitement. Multiple FIRs were filed in Ghaziabad against Narsinghanand for derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad, while Rane was booked for inflammatory speeches on so-called 'love jihad' and 'land jihad.' 'These cases demonstrate that even political figures are not immune from legal accountability when communal boundaries are breached,' he noted.
Naveed further underlined the robust legal framework that underpins minority protections in India. He pointed out that the Supreme Court has repeatedly reaffirmed secularism as a constitutional cornerstone—most notably in its interpretation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, where it asserted that citizenship cannot be decided solely on religious grounds. State High Courts in Punjab and Kerala, he said, have also stepped in to protect Muslim land rights and religious properties from encroachment, showcasing the judiciary's vigilance at multiple levels.
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM), a statutory body, plays a key role in monitoring safeguards and addressing grievances of minority communities, including Muslims, he added.
Alongside legal protections, Naveed stressed that India has significantly expanded its welfare infrastructure for minorities in recent years. Building on the 2006 Sachar Committee report that exposed deep socio-economic gaps, the Ministry of Minority Affairs now runs more than 50 schemes aimed at educational support, skill development, and financial inclusion. In 2022–23 alone, thousands of scholarships were awarded to Muslim students under pre-matric, post-matric, and merit-based programs. Initiatives such as Nai Manzil provide vocational training for school dropouts, while the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana has widened banking access in Muslim-majority districts.
He also cited the 2021 Pew Research Center survey, which revealed that 95% of Indian Muslims expressed pride in their Indian identity, and 85% believed Indian culture was superior in some ways—a powerful indication of inclusion and belonging rather than alienation.
Naveed praised the role of civil society and grassroots organizations in maintaining communal harmony. He pointed to the NCM's 2023 initiative that formed rapid response teams—comprising Muslim leaders, police, and human rights advocates—to respond swiftly and fairly to communal incidents.
"India's pluralistic ethos stands strong even under scrutiny," Naveed said, drawing comparisons with Western democracies where Muslim minorities often face deeper marginalization and political underrepresentation. He urged observers to distinguish between isolated incidents and the broader institutional mechanisms that protect minority rights.
"In spite of challenges, India remains a safe and inclusive country for minorities, especially Muslims. The legal, social, and governmental structures in place speak for themselves,' he observed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
None should think they can speak as they like: CM Pinarayi Vijayan
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Apparently disapproving of CPM state secretary M V Govindan's bypoll-eve remarks related to CPM's association with the RSS at the time of Emergency, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan issued a stern warning against loose talk in front of the mike. The strong words from the party's most senior politburo member came at a review meeting on Sunday, with CPM state committee and district secretariat members in attendance, ahead of the local body elections. The reprimand came at the end of his speech. 'No one should think they can say anything as they like in the next six months,' Pinarayi said while looking back at Govindan who was seated on the dais. However, speaking after the chief minister, Govindan never mentioned the criticism. Pinarayi also reminded the party leaders that CPM's stand against religious extremism has been accepted widely by the people. 'There is no need to cover up our open objection against parties like Jamaat-e-Islami, SDPI and the banned Popular Front of India. We have taken that stand withstanding much pressure. And it has been widely received, with acceptance from within the Muslim community. A section of the Muslim League has also objected to the UDF-Jamaat-e-Islami association. The CPM had openly declared that we don't want the extremist force's vote. Likewise, the Hindutva forces have also strengthened their activities. They have been carrying out their work around temples and believers. We should not view it as trivial,' he said. The chief minister also said that, in certain local bodies, there had been flaws on the part of officials and the ruling council. 'The LDF has a favourable situation politically. Hence, we should use it in favour of the LDF,' he added. Govindan, who presented the organisational report, pointed out that party workers have to visit houses and form committees at ward levels.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Ensure Muslim trader can access shop in Hindu area: HC to Gujarat govt
AHMEDABAD: Reminding state govt that maintaining law and order was its duty, Gujarat high court directed the authorities to redress the problem faced by a Muslim trader in conducting business from his legally-owned shop in a Hindu-majority locality in Vadodara. The order by a bench of Justice H D Suthar came as a relief to petitioner Onali Dholkawala, who allegedly faced relentless obstruction from locals as they have refused to let him open the premises. Dholkawala had legally purchased the shop from two Hindu brothers near Champaner Darwaza in 2016. However, he could get the sale deed registered only in 2020 after he approached HC, as the area is covered under Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provisions of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act, 1991. The Act restricts property transactions in designated areas and mandates the district collector's permission for transactions. Dholkawala continued to face opposition in the neighbourhood as some of the residents challenged the sale to a Muslim and demanded its cancellation. The residents contended that allowing a Muslim to buy property in the area could lead to polarisation and disturb demographic equilibrium. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรด Bitcoin และ Ethereum - ไม่ต้องใช้กระเป๋าเงิน! IC Markets เริ่มต้นตอนนี้ Undo In Feb 2023, HC rejected their petition and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on each of the two litigants hounding the owner and "thwarting his attempt to enjoy the fruits of the property which he successfully purchased". An appeal against this order was also dismissed. However, the locals still did not allow Dholkawala to use the shop. They allegedly dumped debris at its gate so that it could not be opened. Dholkawala approached high court once again, seeking police protection so that he could get the shop repaired and conduct business from the premises. Dholkawala complained that he had approached police multiple times requesting protection, but received no support.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
US abortion rates rise three years after Dobbs' new ruling on Roe vs Wade, here's why
Three years after the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade , the U.S. finds itself at the epicenter of a new abortion battle, one that's defying expectations and reshaping the strategies of both pro-life and pro-choice movements. Despite the pro-life victory in the courts, abortion rates have not dropped; instead, they've remained steady or even increased, raising provocative questions about the true impact of legal bans and the future of reproductive rights in America. The next big fight for abortion opponents is the organisation Planned Parenthood, the nation's leading provider and advocate of affordable sexual and reproductive health care, operates nearly 600 health centers across the country. The unexpected rise: Abortion rates defy pro-life predictions Contrary to pro-life hopes, the number of abortions in the U.S. has not declined post-Dobbs. Recent data from the Charlotte Lozier Institute shows over 1.1 million abortions occurred from July 2023 to June 2024, matching or exceeding pre-Dobbs levels. This estimate, based on the most comprehensive aggregation of clinic, hospital, and virtual provider data, highlights a resilient demand for abortion services even as legal landscapes shift. Researchers caution, however, that the true number may be even higher, as the U.S. lacks a federal abortion reporting mandate and medication abortions, especially those facilitated by international mail-order, are difficult to track with precision. The new battlefield: Pills, politics and laws The unexpected resilience of abortion rates is largely driven by the rise of medication abortion . With the FDA's approval for mail-order mifepristone, telehealth and shield laws have enabled access even in states with bans, and up to 20% of abortions in 2024 were provided via telehealth under such protections. This has allowed patients to bypass state restrictions, fueling what pro-life leaders call a "direct assault on the sovereignty of states." Live Events Pro-life advocates are now focusing on new priorities in response to these trends. Their big challenges, they say, include weakening Planned Parenthood, by targeting its funding streams. Restricting access to abortion pills remains a top objective, as does investing in supportive political candidates and ballot initiatives. Some pro-life lawmakers believe there is a strong chance of defunding Planned Parenthood through a broader reconciliation bill in Congress, which would block Medicaid funds for organizations performing abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or threats to the mother's life. Planned Parenthood, responding to these legislative moves, warned in a statement after the bill passed the Republican-led House in May that such provisions would cut off funding for a range of services beyond abortion, potentially forcing about 200 of its 600 locations to close. "If this bill passes, people will lose access to essential, often lifesaving care — cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing, and yes, abortion," the organization said. Meanwhile, other pro-choice groups are leveraging "shield laws" and ballot initiatives to protect and expand access, turning some states into abortion havens while others enforce near-total bans.
