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HYDERABAD, Oct 25: The Sindhi Adabi Sangat at its central executive committee meeting here on Sunday issued a seven-point declaration on various problems confronting Sindh.
Abd Magsi presided over the meeting which was attended by central secretary-general Taj Joyo, joint secretary Riazat Buriro, Asif Mithani, Noor Chakrani, Azad Anwar Kandhro and office-bearers of various chapters.
The meeting was of the view that no dam or canal could be constructed on the River Indus without the consent of Sindh as the lower riparian had already been deprived of their share of water through existing dams, canals and interbasin link canals.
It opposed Kalabagh dam and Thal canal projects on the ground that they would render Sindh barren.
The meeting resolved to cooperate with all the forces which were opposing these projects.
It declared that the institution of jirga was a violation of law and condemned any attempt to give a legal cover to it as the system was totally against the spirit of democratic norms and violation of fundamental human rights.
The meeting resolved to launch a strong protest movement if any law was enacted or ordinance was issued to legalize jirga.
The meeting demanded that the government should formulate laws to eliminate the practice of karo-kari.
It criticized the tribal clashes and considered disputes as a death blow to the national unity and society.
It appealed to all people living in Sindh to discard ethnicity and discrimination between human beings and live as members of the Sindhi society and resolve their differences through negotiations
Condemning lawlessness and kidnappings, the meeting was of the view that it was a conspiracy against the middle class and against the Hindu businessmen.
It demanded that the Sindh government should appoint conscientious police officers and launch a crackdown on the enemies of society.
It criticized fundamentalism and sectarianism and said that the people of Sindh believed in peace, love and harmony.
It opposed the influx of outsiders into Sindh and considered it a conspiracy to convert the indigenous population into a minority.
The meeting expressed concern over the re-emergence of differences between Sindhis and Urdu-speaking people and stressed the need for a joint struggle for the rights of Sindh.
SINDHI LANGUAGE: The Sangat also issued a separate declaration on the subject of "education in mother tongue" claiming that academicians the world over were of the unanimous view that primary education should be imparted only in mother tongue.
The meeting pointed out that right from 16th century the medium of instruction in Sindh had remained Sindhi.
It took strong exception to the decision of the Sindh education minister to introduce English language from class-I.
The Sindhi Adabi Sangat said this was a violation of not only the international education policy but also of the education policy of the country.
It said the Sangat was not against the English language and proposed that it should be introduced from sixth class.
The meeting regretted that Sindhi language specially the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai was being distorted on the TV channels and radio.
It said that unconcerned people had been appointed on the Sachal Sarmast Fair committee and demanded that poets Adal Soomro and Ayaz Gul be requested to take back their resignations from the committee.
It condemned the exclusion of the name of Dr Daudpoto and Moinjodaro lesson from the English book of class-VIII.
