Gujarat govt appoints commission to study polarisation on religion
The Gujarat government has constituted a judicial commission to probe allegations of ghettoisation of population along religious line in the state.
The government has set up a Commission of Inquiry, headed by Retd Justice B J Shethna, to inquire into polarisation on religious lines in the state, an official notification said.
Allegations have been leveled in courts as well through the media against the state government that polarisation of population on the basis of religion is taking place in Gujarat, it said yesterday.
The Commission has been asked to complete its inquiry and submit its report to the state government before January 31, 2011.
The government said the "allegations were not based on scientific study. Such allegations and unscientific conclusions create divisions among the citizens," it said.
The state government is of the opinion that an inquiry should be held into this matter of public importance, the notification said.
The terms of reference of the Commission is to inquire square meters covered by the people following different religions as on August 15, 1947 and their polarisation and migration taking place every ten years after August 15, 1947 in the state along with the total population, names and the size of such areas. The Commission will also inquire into area-wise proportion of the people following different religions in the new residential areas which have come into being only after August 15, 1947 and the size of such areas.The Commission shall look into the reasons for polarisation of population, the notification said, adding that it has also been asked to make recommendations and frame proper policies to stop the polarisation.
The constitution of such a Commission assumes significance as the urban areas in Gujarat are considered to be polarised on religious lines.
