Godhra left too deep a wound in Gujarat

The Commission plans to visit the state, but "does not want to mix it up with elections", says its chairman.

The Minorities Commission feels that Godhra aftermath has left "too deep a wound" in Gujarat and healing it has to be "visible" in view of the scars left by the communal violence.

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"It is too deep a wound in Gujarat and will take some more time to heal. Healing the situation has to be visible," the newly-appointed Commission Chairman Mohammed Shafi Qureshi told PTI.

Qureshi, a former Union Minister, said the Commission planned to visit the state, but "does not want to mix it up with elections". The process of assembly elections is on in Gujarat where polls are scheduled on December 11 and 16.

Noting that the Commission would talk to the state government to decide suitable dates, he said the modus operandi of the panel has always been to first interact with the affected people and then talk to the administration.

"It does not take a second to destroy the confidence, but building it takes years," said Qureshi, whose refrain is that there is need to change the mindset about the minorities, may it be the issue of Sachar Committee recommendations or other matters concerning them.

Qureshi, a senior leader from Jammu and Kashmir, said a common complaint among minorities is that the progress in implementation of recommendations of the Sachar Committee or report of the Sri Krishna Commission is very slow and it needs to be expedited.

"What the minorities want is equal treatment as any other Indian citizen," he said.