Adopted by the Markazi Majlis-e-Mushawarat, New Delhi, 18 June, 2000

The Markazi Majlis-e-Mushawarat (MMM) of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-­Mushawarat reiterates the objects and purposes of the Mushawarat - defence of the religious identity, the human right and the constitutional rights of the Muslim community, protection of their life, property and dignity and the sanctity of their religious places, institutions and Wakf properties, the development of their educational and economic status, their adequate representation in the political structure, public services, development outlay and welfare benefits - in short, their Empowerment. The MMM also reiterates its pledge to promote inter-religious harmony, tolerance, goodwill and fraternal relations among all communities of our multi-religious society.

The MMM expresses its distress at the national situation today - the upsurge of chauvinism and fascism, the threat of assimilation of all diversities into uniformity, the widening economic gap between the rich and the poor, the steep rise in the price levels of the essential items of mass consumption, the persistent violation of human rights, the phenomenal rise in corruption, the brutal atrocities against the weaker sections, the rampant discrimination against the minorities and the steady saffronisation of education and culture.

The MMM advises the Muslim community, individually and collectively, to join hands with like-minded forces to save the country from disaster and take it in the right direction.

The MMM reiterates its commitment to the democratic and secular order under the Constitution and to our glorious traditions of cultural synthesis, religious tolerance and social fraternization and takes note of the hidden agenda of the Sangh Parivar to convert the secular State progressively into a Hindu State and to destroy the basic ethos of our mother land. The MMM expresses its determination to resist their anti-national move in cooperation with other secular forces.

In this context, the MMM calls upon all secular forces to come together with a view to form a truly secular Government at the Centre and the states and assures them of the full support of the Muslim community in this task.

The MMM records its deep apprehension that the minority rights shall be targeted in the current review of the Constitution and authorizes the President to monitor the progress of the review and to intervene to protect the Muslim interest, when considered necessary.

The MMM requests the President of the Republic to return the UP (Regulation of Public Religious Buildings and Places) Bill, 2000 and calls upon the Governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal to repeal their corresponding Act.

The MMM reiterates the commitment of the Muslim community to accept the final judicial verdict on the Babari Masjid dispute but cautions the authorities against the plan of the Sangh Parivar to build the proposed Mandir on the Babari Masjid site, in defiance of the judicial orders. The MMM also records its firm rejection of any move to hand over the Babari Masjid site to the VHP through legislation.

The MMM notes the threat to the democratic right of the Bengali-speaking people of Assam and calls for the enfranchisement of all persons who have not been declared as foreign nationals and for reservation in the Assam legislature for all ethnic groups in proportion to their population.

The MMM expresses its agony at the continuing violence in Jammu and Kashmir and welcomes the possibility of unconditional dialogue between the Government, on one hand, and the APHC and other political elements, on the other. The MMM demands a Moratorium on violence and calls for mobilization of the people all over the country Against Violence and For Dialogue.

The MMM condemns the current spate of violence against the Christian community and expresses its solidarity with them and other minorities and calls for the formation of a united front of minorities to defend their rights.

The MMM calls upon the Muslim community to assure their due and proper courage in the coming Census in February 2001 and advises the Muslim youth in all localities to ensure correct enumeration.

The MMM expresses its solidarity with the valiant people of Chechenya and Kosovo, against whom the Russian and Yugoslavia Governments are waging full-scale war, and calls for urgent international intervention for protection of human rights and for a honourable political settlement through negotiation.