New Delhi: Praising the National Human Rights Commission for promoting the idea that governments that uphold human rights experience greater success by the ‘Rule of Law’, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar referred to the commission’s report on the post-poll violence in West Bengal in which it had observed that the “Law of the Ruler, not Rule of Law is the bane of human rights in the state”.
Addressing the 30th Foundation Day celebration of NHRC, Dhankar, who was governor of West Bengal, stated that the absence of the Rule of Law should not be a matter of concern in one state only, but should apply to any part of the globe where the “Law of the Ruler prevails instead of the Rule of Law”.
Additionally, he stated that everyone, including the victim and any witnesses to a violation of human rights, must choose a side since "neutrality supports the oppressor, never the sufferer, and silence encourages the tormentor, never the afflicted."
“We never believed, as a nation, in expansion. Any expansion, particularly of geographical boundaries, involves violation of human rights, of an extreme degree. This nation (India) has never done so,” he said, adding that no other country in the World can boast of such a track record.
NHRC chief Justice Arun Mishra said while India has witnessed several steps for the socio-economic and political uplift of the marginalised, more affirmative action is needed. He said that “The time has come to clarify that unrepresented classes in services are provided reservations within the reserved category to ensure overall development.”
