A seminar on ‘Indian minority after Independence’ organised by the Minority Education Committee of the Indian Union Muslim League in Kozhikode on Wednesday called for improving the participation of minority community candidates in the elections.
Representatives of various organisations at the seminar said the existing ratio of representation could be improved both at the grama panchayat level and the constituency level to give more expression to the concerns of the segment.
They also urged political parties to field candidates from the minority communities in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as well. Syed Sadique Ali Shihab Thangal, chairman of the Minority Education Committee, who opened the seminar, observed that the minority communities were yet to get their deserving share of rights and privileges from the government. A silent and peaceful protest was the need of the hour, he said. He said a country would be able to boast of its secular credentials only after ensuring protection to the rights of its minority communities. “Though some segments are showing a hostile attitude towards the concept, the majority is supporting the cause,” he observed.
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M. Musthafa, programme convener, presided. Leaders of the Kerala Naduvathul Mujahideen, Jamaat-e-Islami, Muslim Educational Society and Muslim Service Society spoke.