Team News Riveting
New Delhi, April 1
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Shanta Chhetri has advocated for granting minority status to the Hindu community residing in Meghalaya.
The MP belonging to West Bengal’s ruling party made the demand in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Chhetri cited Centre’s declaration in the Supreme Court that said states could consider granting minority status to the Hindus if it was not in a majority within their jurisdiction.
If Hindus were in minority in a particular state, they should be able to establish and administer educational institution of their choice in keeping with the rights granted to the minority by the Constitution as per the Centre, she said.
“I humbly urge the August House to draw the kind attention of the Home Minister to urgently direct the Meghalaya government to grant minority status to Hindus via a notification as per Article 29 and 30 of the Constitution of India,” Chhetri said.
Meghalaya is one of three states in India where Christian is in majority. About 75 per cent of the population practices Christianity. Hindus are the largest religious minority in Meghalaya with 11.52 per cent of the total state’s population as of 2011 census.
