Give Maharashtra housing quotas for minorities, activist to government

A prominent rights activist has demanded that the Maharashtra Government provide 15 per cent reservations for minorities in the public and private space in the upcoming new housing policy to help maintain the countrys secular character here on SaturdayIn a letter to Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Harmony Foundation President Abraham Mathai said that he had made a similar suggestion in 2003 when he was the Chairman of the Minorities CommissionHowever no government initiated any policy that could encourage multicultural habitations even as the rapacious cancer of communalism and radicalism ruthlessly devastates the fabric of nationhoodDespite attempts Minister Awhad and other government officials were not available for comments on the issueMathai said that unlike the past when communities lived in harmony as good neighbours in recent years the communal forces have led to minorities seeking refuge in ghettos which in turn led to further divisiveness and rise of radical hatemongers on both sidesIn order to curb such ghettoization it is imperative to accommodate the minorities in all housing colonies which have now become votebanks with political parties soliciting support on communal lines said MathaiHe pointed out how such polarisation has resulted in many prominent personalities including Bollywood actors like Emran Hashmi denied a house in an elitist complex in BandraThis only proves that there has been a divide for decades as the majority community is suspicious of the minorities especially the Muslims When we as a society keep them away it is only natural that they would find security in their ghettos where some have the propensity to embrace extremism and eventually become radicalised Mathai pointed outHe urged the Maha Vikas Aghadi partners Shiv SenaNationalist Congress PartyCongress to give top priority to this and give 15 per cent reservations to all religious minorities in the private housing sector as well as MHADA CIDCO and other government bodies building homesPluralistic housing will be a most useful antidote to the toxic mixture produced by communalism and ghettoization hold the secular fabric of the nation as per the Constitution Cohabitations with multiple communities will inculcate the true spirit of nationhood and real love for the nation Mathai urgedHe said that as in many spheres Maharashtra could take the lead and set an example for other states to followKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever