Lok Sabha Question No. 2306 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-02
Subject: Religious Intolerance
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2306

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02 ND  JANUARY, 2018/ PAUSHA 12, 1939 (SAKA)

RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE

2306. ADV. JOICE GEORGE:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  Religious  tolerance  has  deteriorated  and  violation  of  religious freedom have increased in the recent years in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether religious minority communities and Dalits are facing discrimination and  persecution  due  to  a  combination  of  overly  broad  or  ill-defined  laws, inefficient criminal justice system and lack of jurisprudential consistency in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(e) the steps taken by the Government to improve the situation; and

(f)  whether  a  particular  group  is  leading  the  attacks  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a)  to  (f):    'Public  Order'  and  'Police'  are  State  subjects  as  per  the  Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The responsibilities of maintaining law and order,  registration,  investigation  and  prosecution  of  crimes  including  religion related offences rest primarily with the respective State Governments.

## L.S.US.Q NO. 2306 FOR 02.01.2018

There are adequate provisions of laws to deal with the cases of discrimination on the basis of race, caste, ethnicity or religion. The Constitution of India guarantees the Right to Freedom of Religion under Article 25 & 26 and violations of such rights are dealt with under extant laws in force. The Constitution of India abolished the practice  of  untouchability  under  Article  17.  The  Scheduled  Castes  and  the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, was enacted with a view to preventing  'atrocities  against  members  of  SCs  and  STs,  to  provide  for  Special Courts for the trial of such offences, and relief and rehabilitation of the victims' of atrocities.

To  maintain  communal  harmony  in  the  country,  the  Central  Government assists the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations in a variety of ways like sharing of information, sending alert messages and advisories, sending Central Armed Police Forces including the composite Rapid Action Force created specially to  deal  with  communal  situations  to  the  concerned  State  Governments/UTs  on specific requests and in the modernisation of the State Police Forces.

The  Central  Government  issued  revised  guidelines  to  promote  Communal Harmony in 2008, which, inter alia, lay down standard operating procedures to be put in place to deal with situation arising out of the communal violence.

They  also  delineate  preventive  and  administrative  measures  to  be  taken  to maintain communal harmony. The law enforcement agencies keep a watch on the activities of organisations having a bearing on communal harmony in the country and requisite legal action is taken, wherever necessary.

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