Former IPS officer Iqbal Singh Lalpura/Image from IANS
New Delhi: Former IPS officer Iqbal Singh Lalpura has been appointed as Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, the post that has been vacant since May 2020.
Responding to Lalpura's appointment, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Muqtar Abbas Naqvi said that Lalpura's vast experience in administration, social and literary fields will help in strengthening PM Modi's commitment to 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas' (inclusive development with everyone's efforts).
Naqvi highlighted the steps taken by the Modi government for the Sikh community such as the compensation to the families of 1984 riot victims, the operationalisation of the Kartarpur corridor and the soon-to-be-launched "Gurudwara Circuit" that will take passengers on a train journey for the pilgrimage across the country.
"It is our resolve that everyone feels safe, secure and has a share in the development of the country and I am confident Iqbal Singh will play an important role in strengthening that resolve," the minister said.
Lalpura, who was previously associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party as a spokesperson said that he is sitting on this post after resigning from the party.
"It's not necessary to be in the BJP only, my aim is to deliver justice to the people. However, the law of the country is above all the things for me", he was quoted as saying. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving him the opportunity to serve the people and added he would work to put an end to the false narratives and fear being spread in society.
In an interview with a news agency, IANS Lalpura was quoted as saying that he will take steps to provide speedy justice to the victims at the district and state level. As per the information, over 500 cases are pending before the Commission.
"We have a total of 524 complaints pending cases. Delhi has the highest number of pending cases - 187, while the incident from states like Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar and others are also pending, on which we will start working soon," he was quoted as saying.
Several research studies in the Minorities Commission are also yet to be completed.
Lalpura, who hails from Punjab and belongs to the Sikh community, has authored several books on Sikh philosophy and history. He has also won several awards such as the president's police medal, police medal for meritorious services, Shiromani Sikh Sahitkar Award and Sikh scholar award.
He is the second Sikh to head the statutory commission after S Tarlochan Singh, who headed the commission between 2003 and 2006.
Earlier, Gairul Hasan Rizvi was the Chairman of the Commission whose term ended in May 2020.
The Commission comprises seven members including the Chairman, out of which presently five posts are lying vacant. Atif Rashid is the Vice-Chairman of the Commission.