MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

one and a half decade of militancy. Suggesting that a beginning must be made towards resettlement of
the minority community in the Valley, the NCM proposes to send a team to J&K soon to explore the
possibility. The NCM has set an initial target of resettling at least 50-100 families displaced from the
Valley. (Economic Times 18.7.02)
20 th July
Aided institutes open for all: SC (7)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has held that a minority educational institution was obliged to take
students from other communities once it seeks aid from the government. But it could retain its minority
character without changing the management. This was observed by Chief Justice B N Kirpal in a case
related to rights of minority institutions in respect of grants\aid. The Tamil Nadu government told the
Supreme Court that once a minority educational institution receives aid from the government, it loses its
right to admit students only from the minority group by which the institution was set up. Addressing an
11-judge Bench, headed by Chief Justice Kirpal, counsel K K Venugopal said acceptance of aid from the
government would make it mandatory for the minority institution to open the seats to other communities.
(Times of India 20.7.02)
20 th July
Not wanting to appear poll-shy, Congress says impose President’s Rule (7)
NEW DELHI, GANDHINGAR, JULY 19: THREE months ago, his party ignoring widespread criticism
over the worst riots in a decade in which about 1,000 were killed, told Gujarat Chief Minister that he could
dissolve the House and go for early elections. Narendra Modi did that today drawing the battlelines once
again over Gujarat. While the B JP is now mounting pressure on the Election Commission for a
September poll, the Opposition wants President’s Rule to ensure that the electoral rolls aren’t tampered
with under a caretaker Modi and an RSS Governor. (Indian Exp 20.7.02)
21st July
Two Christian missionaries sentenced for conversion, 1 posthumously (7)
TWO CHRISTIAN missionaries were sentenced to six months jail with a fine of Rs 500 each on charges
of conversion by First Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ) of Surguja district in Chhattisgarh
State. One of the convicted missionaries, Father KL Bridget (a foreign national), was awarded the
sentence posthumously. First ADJ, Ambikapur TH Burman confirmed the order given by the then Chief
Judicial Magistrate (CJMJ, Ambikapur CL Patel on January 22, 1996.
Sister Vridhi Ekka (44), is the other defendant to the suit who was sent to Central jail in the tribal district of
Surguja. The ruling has evoked a mixed reaction as all Christian missionaries protested in Surguja district
by keeping their educational institutions closed on Friday. The Christian community has taken the
judgement with a pinch of salt. A report quoting jthe Bishop of Ambikapur, Father Patras Minj, says the
First ADJ's ' ruling would be challenged in the Chhattisgarh High Court. . Father Minj also expressed
anguish over the present Government led by Chief Minister Ajit Jogi. The report says that
"Christians were getting a raw deal in the present regime" (Pioneer 21.7.02)
21 st July
Marathi Jews are Moses’ kin, says study (7)
LONDON: More than 2,000 years after they first claimed to have set foot in India, the mystery of the
world's most obscure Jewish community — the Marathi-speaking Bene Israel — may finally have been
solved with genetic carbon-dating revealing they carry the unusual Moses gene that would make them,
literally, the original children of Israel. Four years of DNA tests on the 4,000-strong Bene Israel, now
mainly based in Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Ahmed-abad, indicates they are probable descendants of a
small group of hereditary Israelite priests or Cohanim, according to new results exclusively made available
to the Sunday Times of India. The priests are scattered world- a wide but genetically related in a
distinctive fashion that leaves just a billion to one chance of a mistake in identifying who the Bene Israel
really are, says Tudor Parfitt, Jewish Studies professor at London's School of Oriental and African Studies.
(Times of India 21.7.02)
21 st July