MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

Minority rights: Soli will tell SC what govt won’t (7)
NEW DELHI, MAY 12: AS the largest Supreme Court bench in the last 30 years hears a batch of 200
petitions dealing with minority rights against the backdrop of Gujarat, the Centre may be in for an
embarrassment. For, its No. 1 law officer, Attorney-General Soli Sorabjee, is set to give his "personal
opinion" to the court regardless of the stand the Government has already taken through its No. 2 law
officer, Solicitor-General Harish Salve. At the heart of the current debate is the Government's argument,
stated by Salve, that a minority institution receiving aid from the state should be denied the right it has
under Article 30 of the Constitution to reserve seats purely on religious or linguistic lines. (Indian Exp
13.5.02)
14 th May
Can’t shut out the world, says Sorabjee (7)
JAIPUR: Attorney-General Soli Sorabjee said here on Monday that India cannot brush aside concern
voiced by some foreign countries on the Gujarat situation. Old dogmas of state sovereignty have changed
and the international community can now express "legitimate concern", he said.
Speaking at the national seminar on "Human rights in governance," Sorabjee said it was just not enough
for the government to criticise superficially or express resentment over critical reports of foreign countries.
"If their reports are incorrect, false or exaggerated, our response should be with facts or figures," he said.
Merely expressing the government's resentment or criticism to such reports gave "propaganda
ammunition" to countries hostile to India. (Times of India 14.5.02)
14 th May
Two die as Gujarat riots spill over border (7)
Mumbai, May 13: Two persons were killed, one of them in police firing, and 53 others injured when
clashes broke out in Maharashtra's tribal-dominated Nandurbar town on Monday morning, forcing the
authorities to impose curfew there. The injured included a police officer and two journalists. The police
later arrested 83 persons in connection with the violence. (Asian Age 14.5.02)
14th May
Gujarat carnage will dominate agenda (7)
Hyderabad: THE. KILLING of minorities in Gujarat will top the agenda at a meeting of United Nations
Subcommittee on Minorities in August this year, ex-chairman of National Minorities Commission and
former Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High' Court Justice Sardar Ali Khan, said at a symposium (The
genocide in Gujarat and Future Action ) on Sunday. The symposium was organised by the Forum for
Social Justice, a group of teachers belonging to scheduled castes, tribes and backward classes and the
Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians. (Pioneer 14.5.02)
14 th May
Blasts in mosque lead to tension (7)
Meerut: Tension gripped Saharanpur on Monday after two powerful bombs exploded within the premises
of a mosque near the PWD Guest House in Janakpuri . The police later seized another live crude bomb
attached to a timer from the site. The explosions damaged the place of worship. (Times of India 14.5.02)
14 th May
Sonia seeks PM help over 2 hate cases in Gujarat (7)
NEW DELHI, MAY 13: CONGRESS president Sonia andhi today sought Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee's
intervention in connection with two incidents in Gujarat. One is the murder of a pregnant woman and her
unborn child. The other is the rape and murder of five little girls. In a letter to Vajpayee, Sonia said that she
received a petition from Jannatbai Kallubhai Sheikh of Naroda Patia in Gujarat who was an eyewitness to
both crimes. Jannatbai has identified the perpetrators to the police but no action has been taken so far,
she wrote. (Indian Exp 14.5.02)
15th May
Illegal arms flourish in Ahmedabad (7)