National

U.S. team on human rights meets NCM

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 20. A U.S. delegation — led by the Assistant Secretary dealing with racial affairs and human rights, Michael Parmly — met the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) here today to discuss the status of the minorities and indigenous groups in the country.

Though officials billed the meeting as routine, it assumed significance coming as it did in the wake of the Gujarat violence that has attracted criticism from both within and outside the country. In fact, the delegation evinced considerable interest in the Gujarat violence during the meeting, which lasted for an hour-and-a-half.

According to NCM sources, the delegation was well versed with the issues pertaining to different communities. The NCM is learnt to have tried to impress upon the delegation that Gujarat ought not be used as a yardstick to determine India's record vis-a-vis various communities.

Continuing with its efforts at ``confidence-building'', the Commission decided to visit Gujarat later this week to bring about amity between Hindus and Muslims. During this visit — the fourth since trouble began in the State — the NCM hopes to get the representatives of the two communities together to begin the process of ``ironing out the rough spots''.

In a related development, the Gujarat Government today filed details of its rehabilitation package for riot victims with the Cabinet Secretary and the NCM. According to the NCM Vice-Chairman, Tarlochan Singh, the Commission is yet to examine the details of the rehabilitation package.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• War is not a solution: Bardhan
• Govt. hopes Narayanan will say `no'
• `PM will lead the battle against terrorism'
• Now, Cong. demands elections in Gujarat
• War only the last option: Farooq
• Support Vajpayee in the hour of crisis: Gowda
• Ajit Singh wants farm subsidies to be enhanced
• First farm job portal launched
• CPI (ML) wants Govt. to de-escalate tensions
• New scheme for salaried taxpayers
• India willing to discuss Gujarat violence with EU
• U.S. team on human rights meets NCM
• Stop murderous attacks, Germany tells Pak.
• Border situation may overshadow AICC meet

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu