Shamim to head Minorities Commission

By Harish Khare

NEW DELHI, JAN. 14. In a move aimed at sending out signals of moderation towards the minorities, the Vajpayee Government is said to have decided to reconstitute the National Commission for Minorities, putting at rest apprehensions that the Commission could be abolished altogether, as the ruling coalition has had occasions to feel embarrassed by its observations and findings.The re-constituted Commission is likely to be headed by Mr. Justice M. Shamim, a judge of the Delhi High Court who gave the ruling in the hawala case that the ``diaries'' were not admissible evidence. The ``Kashmiri Pandit'' slot is to be filled by Mr. Vijay K.Dar, a retired IAS officer, while the ``Shia'' seat would be occupied by Mr. Shamim Qazim, a banker by profession.

The other members are: Mr. Trilochan Singh (a former aide to former President Zail Singh); Gen. A.M.Sethna (retd.), a Parsi; Mr. T.K. Lochen Tolku (a Buddhist), Mr. John Joseph from Kerala.

The Prime Minister is also said to have approved the appointment of Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde as Chairman of the Indo- French Forum, Dr. I.P. Singh as Chairman of the Indo-German Forum, and Mr. K.C. Pant as Chairman of the Indo-British Forum; each of the appointments carries with it a Cabinet rank.

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