Chhapra: A strong demand for the inclusion of the Pasmanda Muslim community under the ambit of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, was raised at a conference organized in Chhapra on Sunday. The event, held at the Bhikhari Thakur Art Gallery-cum-Auditorium under the banner of the Tahaffuze Mashra Conference, saw speakers highlighting the urgent need for social justice and equal rights for deprived sections of the minority community.
The conference was jointly organized by the All India United Muslim Morcha and the Indian Pasmanda Council. Addressing the gathering, the chief guest and former Rajya Sabha MP, Dr. Ejaz Ali, said that even after 75 years of independence, the focus of politics remains trapped in temple-mosque and India-Pakistan debates, while the common people continue to grapple with inflation, unemployment, and corruption.
Dr. Ali emphasized that the SC/ST Act has helped reduce atrocities against Dalit and tribal communities, and if extended to the Pasmanda Muslim community, it would establish social balance and justice within the minority population. He listed several Muslim castes—including Fakir, Dhobi, Halalkhor, Mehtar, Bhangi, Julaha, Khatik, Madari, Sapera, Dafali, Mochi, Pasi, Shilpkar, Bhatyara, and Bhat—that he said meet the eligibility criteria for inclusion under the law. He appealed to the central government to take immediate and serious initiative on the matter.
Social activist Hafiz Ghulam Sarwar, who attended the conference from Delhi, argued that the 1989 law needs to be amended in line with contemporary requirements. He noted that including Pasmanda Muslims in its ambit would not only be historic but also an essential step towards ensuring social justice.
Several local leaders and community representatives echoed this sentiment. Among those who spoke in support were Engineer Sameer, Hasnain Ansari, Taufeeq Sah, Ahmad Hussain, Noor Hasan Azad, Khurshid Seraj, Waseem Raja, Maulana Parvez, Computer Baba, and Faizullah Ansari. They collectively warned that neglecting the Pasmanda community was widening the inequality gap and demanded urgent corrective action.
The event was presided over by Mohammad Salim, with Zahir Hussain conducting the proceedings. The welcome address was delivered by Qamruddin Ansari, and a vote of thanks was extended by Engineer Mohammad Sameer Ali. Speakers unanimously appealed to the government to introduce concrete measures to provide weaker sections of society with equal rights and protection under the law.
