Ambedkar Society for South Asia (ASSA) organized an International webinar "A World of Equality, Non Discrimination & Harmony: Our Collective Responsibility" on 18th Dec 2022 "World Minority Day" with the participation of speakers from Pakistan and India.
Host: Paroosh
Guest Speakers:
1- Dr. Seema Mathur, (Asst. Professor) Dehli University, Social Activist, Founder Member of NCWL, India
2- Adv. Savita Ali(Advocate/Social Activist) Director Bihar Legal Network, Core Member of Dalit Women Fight from Christian Community, India
3- Adv. Gagandeep Caur(Advocate/Social Activist) President: NREGA Workers Union, President: Dalit Dasta Virodhi Andolan, from Sikh Community, India
4- Dr. Amritpal Kaur (Dental Surgeon & Writer) on Ambedkarism, Buddhism & Feminism.Founding Member of National Council of Women Leaders, from Buddhist Community, India
5- Sohail Ahmed Raza(Director Interfaith Relations) Minhaj ul Quran International, Pakistan
6- Krishan Sharma (President) Pakistan Hindu Mandir Management Committee from Hindu Community, Pakistan
7- Manmeet Kaur (Media Reporter)HUM News, from Sikh Community, Pakistan
Dr. Seema Mathur said that the world is now talking about zero discrimination in the society, but Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar had mentioned the rights of minorities in Articles 29, 30 and other articles of the Constitution of India by giving them equal representation in every field. But it is not sufficient to only having articles in the constitution because the implementation of these articles is more important. On the contrary, for the last 10 or 15 years, there has been a series of hateful speeches, which is seriously undermining the rights of minorities and their self-respect. Savita Ali said that there are different situations in our South Asia regarding minorities. If we talk about India, here in most of the states, the minority community is facing a lot of problems and sufferings. She talked about her country India that the minorities in India, especially the Christian community and the Muslim community, always face discrimination. In Bihar, Orissa and other states there is very inappropriate attitude towards Muslims and Christians. These communities are also victims of violence of so called upper class communities. Mr. Krishan Sharma said that at the time of partition, we including Hindu, Christians and others opted to live in Pakistan because of the basic teaching of equality in Islam. We are still happy with our decisions, because In Pakistan we ensure 5 percent job and educational quota; we are enjoying minority friendly personal laws for Hindus, Christians and Sikh here in Pakistan. Pakistan is continuously trying to take many measures to eradicate inequalities prevailing in our societies in South Asian region. Dr. AmritaPal Kaur said, in her speech that the problem is there in the implementation. We have to follow the definition of Democracy given by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who said that the democracy is the second name of social justice. As the Indian society is based on orthodox caste system and no one follow the constitution framework of Babasaheb which was based on the three main elements of liberty, fraternity and equality.
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