Colonel S K Tressler (Retd)
Federal Minister for Minority Affairs
Government of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD
SUB: QUESTIONNAIRE
Dear Sir,
Being a journalist from the Scheduled Castes community, I require answers of the following questions specifically pertaining to the plight of Scheduled Castes to know the exact policy of the government towards the Pakistani Scheduled Castes who stood by a liberal Muslim Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah despite lures from a Brahmin Mahatma Gandhi during the partition. I have also enlisted two quotes from Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah's speech and press conference to make it clear that what the founder of Pakistan had in store for the Scheduled Castes. [On August 15, 1944, the Quaid-e-Azam held a Press Conference in which he said: "I can tell my friends of the Scheduled Castes that at no time have I overlooked their interests and position and I may claim that in the past I have done all I could to help them, and I shall always stand for their protection and safe--guard in any future scheme of constitution for I think that the wrongs and injustices inflicted on them for centuries should not be allowed to continue under any civilised form of government." Quoting an article published in 'Sunday Observer' of Madras, on March 11, 1942, the Quaid said: "All are equal in the eyes of God of other religions, but under the squint--eyed Hinduism, men are born unequal and should live as unequals. The 'Panchama' or the untouchable, cannot aspire to heavenly bliss by himself, whatever penance he may do. If he serves the priestly class well and truly, he will get promotions to the higher class in his next birth but he will remain a born 'Sudra'. If he does better service to the community which God has chosen as his power-of-attorney agents on earth, he gets promoted to the 'Vaishva' class, then to the 'Kshatriya' and finally to the class which stands at the threshold of divinity." In the Quaid's view a religion which treats millions of people as untouchables (Sudras) and considers the "low caste man" as perdition, and which discourages inter-dining and inter-marriage among the four castes comprising the Hindu society must be described by some adjective other than "Catholic." Even in their places of worship, the caste system prevailed and the "Harijans" as Mr. Gandhi referred to them were still considered inferior. "What a catholicism!... Caste system and untouchability are the negation of equality."]
1. Whether the current Government of Pakistan which puts much emphasis on 'vision of Quaid-e-Azam' subcribes to 55 year old views of Quaid about Scheduled Castes?
2. If, yes, then what steps it has taken or wants to take to fulfil the promises made to the Scheduled Castes of Pakistan?
3. Why the Scheduled Castes, who form 70 per cent of total Hindu population in Pakistan, are cast aside in almost every sphere of life specially in politics where they have never been able to attain their due representation since independence. Why do the Scheduled Castes are not invited for consultations on national affairs by the President General Pervez Musharraf while upper caste Hindu leaders are treated like Maharajas?
4. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had appointed his first Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister from Scheduled Castes communities. Why any successor government didn't give representation to the Scheduled Castes in Federal or any Provincial Cabinet since last 54 years?
5. What steps the government has taken to remove "the wrongs and injustices inflicted on them for centuries under any civilised form of government. (Quaid's speech)"
6. Why the 6 per cent job quota assured to the Scheduled Castes candidates by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah is not being implemented since last half century?
7. Why the government of Pakistan mostly keeps silent on the genocide of Scheduled Castes or Dalits in India where 1 million Dalits have so far been mowed down by the upper caste Hindu extremists during last 55 year?
The above questions need an official reply from the Government of Pakistan so that the people of Scheduled Castes could be made aware about the actual views of the government about the most neglected segment of Pakistani nation.
Hope your answers will satisfy the people of the lower caste communities of Pakistan.
Sincerely,
Sadhumal Surendar Valasai
Reporter
Daily FINANCIAL POST KARACHI
Phone: 021-5381626
Mobile: 0300-9206547