The International Minorities’ Rights Day is observed on 18th December every year across the world. The day reminds us the true rights of minorities. Every nation has different ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities groups. It is the duty of State to provide all the rights to the minorities irrespective of their population and religion. There are hundreds of instances in the world when a particular minority group had to suffer because of policy discrimination.
To handle such situations and to stop the occurrence of discrimination against the minorities’ United Nations Organizations had adopted and promulgated the ‘Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Linguistic and Religious Minorities.’ United Nation had declared that-“States shall protect the existence of national or ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identity of minorities and encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity”
The declaration was a huge step in protecting minorities’ groups all over the World and the 18th day of December is observed as ‘Minorities’ rights Day’ all over the world including India.
The National Commission for Minorities’ had given the direction upon all states in the year 1992 to observe 18th December every year as Minorities’ rights Day.
The West Bengal Minorities' Commission observed 24th Minorities’ Rights Day on 18th December, 2016 at Mahajati Sadan, Kolkata with the theme, “ Is it a Myth that Minorities are 2nd Class Citizen?”.
The Programme was presided over by Janab Intaj Ali Shah, WBHJS (Retd. Judge), Chairman of this Commission.
The Chief Guest was His Excellency, The Governor of West Bengal, Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi.
Special Guest, Janab Siddiqulla Chaudhury, Hon’ble M.O.S. (Independent Charge), Department of Mass Education Extension and Library Science also graced the Occasion.
Other dignitaries like religious representatives from different communities attended the programme.
Welcome address was delivered by Alhaj Intaj Ali Shah, Hon’ble Chairman, W. B. Minorities’ Commission.
Special Guest, Janab Siddiqulla Chaudhury, Hon’ble M.O.S. and Janab Nasiruddin Ahmed, Ex-M.L.A. and Hon’ble Member of this Commission delivered their speech on the theme at the event.
The Auspicious Lamp was lit by His Excellency, The Governor of West Bengal, Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi.
His Excellency, The Governor of West Bengal also addressed to the Audience.
Vote of Thanks was given by Marshood Ali Al-Quadri, Hon’ble Member of the Commission.
About 300 enthusiastic audience comprising all Minority communities were present at the auditorium.
