Author: Agence France Presses
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 18, 2001
India told the UN sub-commission
that minorities in any country must accept the legislation passed in the
democratic process and cannot have a 'violent veto' against it though they
could criticise the same.
"Once a law or certain regulations
have been passed by following democratic procedures, that law and regulations
must be accepted. Minorities have a voice but not a violent veto on legislation
and other measures democratically passed," attorney general Soli Sorabjee
said in his' address to the seventh session of UN sub-commission - working
group on minorities here yesterday. He said minorities must have a "real
voice in the decision making process which result in decisions and policies
which affect the minorities politically, economically or culturally." However,
the attorney general said as the process for developing and expanding the
rights of minorities were being considered, the responsibilities of minorities
to the community in which they live must not be forgotten
"Minorities are rightly entitled
to respect their traditions, customs and culture from the majority community,
must likewise respect the traditions and culture of the majority community,"
Sorabjee emphasised.
Referring to the commentary by Asbjorn
Eide, chairman of the working group on minorities, on the "declaration
on the rights of persons belonging to National or ethnic, religious and
linguistic minorities", he said it rightly stressed on the duty of the
state to prohibit minorities from imposing their particular rules.
Sorabjee said "the commentary rightly
emphasises the duty of the state to prohibit measures taken by minorities
to impose their particular rules.
