பாகிஸ்தானில் மத ஒடுக்குமுறை: தலித் இந்துக்கள் குமுறல்

தாங்கள் இந்துக்கள் என்பதால், தங்களுக்கு வீடு விற்க மறுக்கின்றனர், சுகாதார வசதிகள் மறுக்கப்படுகின்றன, என்பது சதவிகிதம் இருக்கும் மண்ணின் மைந்தர்களான தலித்துகள் புறக்கணிக்கப்படுகிறார்கள் என்று இஸ்லாமிய மதவெறியால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுக்கொண்டிருக்கும் பாகிஸ்தானிய தலித் இந்துக்கள் புலம்புகிறார்கள்.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=122008

‘Untouchable’ Hindus feel let down by PPP
Thursday, July 03, 2008
By Aroosa Masroor

Karachi

Members belonging to the scheduled castes in Hindus – often referred to as ‘untouchables’ – say they have been let down by the PPP minority representatives once again, despite the fact that majority of PPP supporters [in the Hindu] community belong to the scheduled caste.

The community members belonging to different low-income neighbourhoods such as Lyari, Ranchore Lines and Garden have raised their concern on the nomination of representatives of Karachi Hindu Panchayat, Hindu Panchayat Karachi Division and Pakistan Hindu Council, which, they allege, is dominated by “upper class” Hindus.

“There are no elections for reserved seats in the assembly. That’s why only the rich – who can afford to buy a party ticket – are nominated. But now this trend is seeping into our NGOs as well, and that is negatively affecting the community’s social welfare system,” alleged Tara Chend, President Marwari Panchayat told The News during an interview along with other minority councilors. The Marwari Panchayat comprises individuals from the scheduled caste.

Chend said that although representatives of the Hindu Panchayat Karachi Division, Pakistan Hindu Council and Karachi Hindu Panchayat make tall claims of serving the community, in truth, the opposite has been the case.

“It’s all about money. You can even be the lifetime member of a council if you have the cash,” interrupts Banji Bochia, member of the PPP Minority Wing, who complained that the Hindus in Karachi have been deprived of basic human rights. He said that even if elections do take place, it is only among members belonging to the upper class who are friends or relatives of influential politicians, while the scheduled caste is ignored during the nomination process.

“Forget membership of the council, I can’t even buy a new house in my name. The estate agent refuses to sign a deal when he reads I am a Hindu. I don’t know who to go,” adds Anil Kumar sharing his experience. Citing the example of Jagdesh Kumar’s murder case recently, whose investigation remains pending, the members complained that approaching any of the abovementioned bodies does not help, as representatives do not address their grievances.

However, the council members deny this claim. Raja Assermal Manglani, President Pakistan Hindu Council assures that the membership is not restricted to upper class Hindus, and that the council comprises members from the scheduled caste as well.

“The annual membership fee of only Rs 1,000 is affordable by an average Hindu, and we have never restricted anyone.”

On being questioned why was there a need to form yet another body of Hindus in the presence of Karachi Hindu Panchayat and Hindu Panchayat Karachi Division, Manglani said that the aim of the council was to provide relief to Hindus of the entire country, as there was no body at the national level to resolve their problems.

“The council was formed only two years ago and we are trying our best to extend immediate help to those in need.” He added that the council has helped strengthen the Hindu matrimonial system where members arrange mass marriages for the poor faction of the community.

Although the council manifesto states that the council shall run on non-political basis, some members have also questioned the presence of ex-MPA (Sindh) Dr. Ramesh Kumar. When asked, Manglani clarified that Dr. Kumar is only the founder of the council and does not intervene in the decision of the board members. “He is only a patron. The board of members only seek his advice if there is a major problem,” said Manglani. Members from the scheduled caste are also of the opinion that the joint electoral system has affected them the most because in the present system, they feel discriminated against the Muslims, who refuse to address their problems because of “religious differences” while minority representatives in the assembly are now busy serving their own party’s interests.

They are of the opinion that minority representatives nominated for reserved seats should mostly be from the scheduled caste that make up 80 per cent of the Hindu population. The remaining Hindus belong to the business class.

Dr Mohan Lal, Sindh Advisor to CM on Minority Affairs, however, disagrees. “The Hindus need to understand that as citizens of this country, they have an equal right to all the public services and they should learn to demand those rights even from the Muslim representative in their constituency irrespective of his religion. Unless they get over these religious differences themselves, they will not be able to achieve anything.”