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| Minorities deprived of legitimate due in JK | | BJP remains blatantly indifferent | | Abodh Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, May 22: Two years since the BJP led NDA Government assumed power in the Centre and more than one year since maiden BJP alliance Government took up reins in J&K, there has been no move to grant minority status to Hindus and Sikhs of the state, who continue to be deprived of their legitimate rights as minorities for decades.
It is a pity that even as both Hindus and Sikhs are demographic minorities in India's only Muslim majority state, they are denied benefits and concessions extended to minorities under various centrally sponsored schemes and the majority community of the state enjoys those concessions, which is against the very essence and spirit of such programmes. This anomaly exists as Jammu and Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim majority state is, is yet to put in place a State Minority Commission for the welfare of its minorities even though there is a clear direction from the Apex Court in this regard. While at least fifteen states of the country have constituted their own minority commissions following directions of the Supreme Court, successive governments in Jammu and Kashmir, safely slept over the decision to satiate their vote banks. In the absence of state minority commission, the communities granted the minority status by the National Minority Commission enjoy the same status irrespective of their demographic position in the particular state.
A senior BJP leader when contacted over the issue said, "RSS does not want that Hindus should be projected as a minority in any state of the country". He however could not comment on the disadvantage to which the Hindus and Sikhs have been subjected to due to such a move. The special schemes for minorities include Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme, Post-matric Scholarship Scheme, Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme, Free Coaching and Allied Scheme for Minority Communities Students, "Nai Roshni"- The Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women, Support for Students clearing Prelims conducted by UPSC/SSC,State Public Service Commission(PSC) etc., "Hamari Dharohar" - A scheme to Preserve Rich Heritage of Minority Communities of India under the Overall Concept of Indian Culture, "Seekho aur Kamao(Learn & Earn)"- The Scheme for Skill Development of Minorities and several others.
Astoundingly, while students, women, entrepreneurs, artisans and others belonging to minority communities of J&K including Hindus and Sikhs are legitimate and eligible recipients of the benefits of such schemes, the overwhelming majority community of the state is receiving these benefits for decades against the principle of natural justice and very spirit of such schemes. |
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