SRINAGAR: Clearing its stand on declaring Hindus a minority community in Jammu and Kashmir, The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on Monday said that the commission has nothing to do with the granting of minority status to any community in the country.
The Indian Express reported that member NCM, Syed Shahezadi on Monday said that if Government wants to grant minority status to Hindus, including Kashmiri Pandits, in Jammu and Kashmir and parliament wants to enact a law for the same, let them do it.
She said that the decision is out of the commission’s bounds and Supreme Court is the absolute authority to take the final call.
“The commission has categorically made it clear that they are not the law makers and it is for Parliament and the Supreme Court to take a decision on this matter,’’ Shahezadi said.
The NCM member earlier in the day held discussions with UT Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta on implementation of centrally funded welfare schemes for minorities in Jammu and Kashmir.
She further said the NCM aims at setting up minority commissions in every state and UT of the country and the Commission will write to the government for setting up one in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir as well.
Pertinently, Supreme Court in November last year had asked the Centre for completing consultations with states on the demand to grant minority status to Hindus in states where their numbers are below other communities.
This followed the government submission before court that it had received comments from 14 states and UTs and has sent reminders to others to send in their views at the earliest.
