2. Two thoughts
• History is witness that every nation which rose
from the ashes did that on the basis of iron
discipline and the willingness to invest time,
energy and resources in its own future
Justice is not given. It must be taken
3. Need
• Minorities and weaker sections are routinely
discriminated against
• State sides with those already empowered
• Judicial redressal of aberrations illusory
• Judicial and administrative bias aggravates it
• Civil society, pluralism, inclusiveness,
secularism all take a hit.
Does anyone doubt that there is a dire
need for an organization to change this?
4. Indian Constitution
• Guarantees equal rights
• Guarantees equal
freedom
• Guarantees legal
redressal
• Guarantees non-
discrimination
• But all guarantees have
to be invoked and won
• All discrimination has to
be established and
challenged
• Legal redressal is only
for those who apply
Freedom is not free - Neither is slavery
5. Current scenario
• Rapid polarization along caste lines
• Visible in all strata of society – Executive,
Judiciary, Legislature, Military, Police,
Education, Social Work and Business
• Muslims are targeted at all levels and are
helpless to get redressal
• Muslims have aggravated their own problems
• Bridges are burning
Security of the nation is threatened first in the mind
6.
7.
8.
9. • Strength
– Highly educated and capable minority within
• Weakness
– Highly ignorant and weak majority among us
• Opportunity
– Use the legal system to challenge discrimination
• Threat
– Annihilation
Our SWOT
10. Benefits
• Organization is not as susceptible to being targeted
as an individual would be
• Higher public and media credibility of an organization
• Inclusive structure for anyone who needs help
• Representative of larger sections of society
• Participative ownership realizable from subscriptions
on a monthly basis
• Organization acquires momentum of its own
We take benefits to be self-evident
11. Structure
• NGO type Trust free from interference
• Senior Advocate to head
• Litigation, Media Response & PR staff
• Office staff to support the exercise
• Computing equipment and subscriptions
including to electronic magazines and books
• Data collection, compiling, storage and
retrieval mechanisms, safe from e-theft
The legal structure that gives the best leverage.
14. Key Names
• Governing Council
• Advisory Council
• Head - LSG
• Selection Criteria
– Professional Track Record
– Neutrality and Fairness
– Stature in society
– Principle based activism
Names must inspire confidence
15. Essential Character
• Completely Apolitical and Unaffiliated
• Open to all
• Funders will not call the shots
• Collaborative decision making
• Absolute fairness and impartiality
Walk the talk
Loss of credibility is loss of life
16.
17. Nisa 4:135 O you who believe! Stand
out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allâh,
even though it be against yourselves, or
your parents, or your kin, be he rich or
poor, Allâh is a Better Protector to both
(than you). So follow not the lusts (of your
hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if
you distort your witness or refuse to give it,
verily, Allâh is Ever Well Acquainted with
what you do
18. Deliverables
• Track media reports and book contents
• Take proactive/preemptive action to protect the
interests of the weaker sections
• Monitor legislations and welfare schemes of
Government and implementation mechanisms
• Fight cases supportive of Rule of Law
• Create evaluation and alternative policy team
• Build bridges with others who share concerns
Annual Report to be shared
One win will justify the investment
19. Investment
• Rs.5 lakhs per month / Rs.60 lakhs per annum
• Not inclusive of court costs and other such
expenses
• Must create a Contingency Fund in addition
• Eventual aim is to create a structure that is
self supporting and acquires a momentum of
its own, also attracting further funding
Value of investment is directly
proportional to expected benefit
20. Decision Points
• Go? – No Go?
• Who else to involve?
• How to raise the funds?
• When do we go live?
Work quietly, so our efforts are
not nipped in the bud