Eight states to get Hindu minority status in Hindu majority nation

NewsBharati    07-Dec-2017
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New Delhi, December 7: National Commission for Minorities has set up a three-member committee to study the matter to give minority status to Hindus in eight states including Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on Wednesday formed a three-member Committee to study the matter regarding demands seeking minority status to Hindus in eight states where their population is less than 50%.

Last month, the apex court had refused to entertain a petition seeking its direction to the Centre to grant minority status to Hindus in eight states. Supreme Court also directed petitioner Delhi BJP leader advocate Ashwini Upadhyay to approach the National Minorities Commission (NCM).

 

Hindus are in a minority in Lakshadweep (2.5 per cent), Mizoram (2.75), Nagaland (8.75), Meghalaya (11.53), J&K (28.44), Arunachal Pradesh (29) Manipur (31.39) and Punjab (38.4).

Upadhyay argued that in the absence of the "minority" tag, benefits meant for the minority communities were being given away to majority community in each state in an illegal and arbitrary manner.

"Hindus in these states are being deprived of their basic rights, guaranteed under the Articles 25 to 30. Hence, the notification on minority community is not only arbitrary and irrational but also invalid and ultra-virus the Constitution of India and its basic structure," he argued.

The Commission chairman Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi said the committee will give its report within three months. He said after examining the report, the Commission will take a view over the issue.