JAMMU. DEC 18: To mark the United Nations Minority Rights Day and to seek justice for the various religious minorities in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, a seminar on the political, legal and social status of the minorities in Jammu and Kashmir was organized by the newly constituted Minority Rights Forum here. The seminar was presided over by Bishop Dr. Peter Celestine of Jammu-Srinagar. Tundup Rinpochee, President of the Ladakh Budhist Gompa Association, was the chief guest.

The speakers castigated the Government of Jammu and Kashmir for its most callous and indifferent attitude towards the minorities of all hues in the State, viz., Kashmiri Pandits, Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians. They said the Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians already declared minorities at the national level under the National Commission for Minorities Act 1992 have been deprived of the benefits as the same was not applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir under the provisions of Article 370 which grants special status to the State. The Hindus being a reverse minority too suffer and are at a disadvantageous position, they added.

They demanded that the State must fulfill its commitment and set up a State Minority Commission to safeguard the rights of the minorities. The Forum demanded adequate representation in the State Legislature, Judiciary, Executive, professional colleges and the state services. It also demanded reservation of seats for these minorities in various sectors where they cannot otherwise gain access via normal processes due to inadequate numbers. Moreover, they demanded that the Buddhists, Sikhs and Christians be also declared minorities in the state. Besides this demand extends to the Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus, who were declared a reverse minority by the United Nations, as per the recommendation of the National Commission of Minorities.

The writer advocated that since the Presidential Order 1950 has not been extended to the State of Jammu and Kashmir in terms of Article 370 of the Constitution of India and under the provisions of the Delhi Agreement 1952, the Dalit Christians should be given all those benefits as are available to their counterparts in Sikhism and Buddhism and Hinduism. The writer further said that of all the minorities in the State it were the Christians alone who are the most ignored lot. They stand nowhere. There are not Christian students in the Medical,Engineering and other professional clolleges in the State despite having the requisite qualification for that. Being educationally,and economically backward seats in proportion to their number be reserved in such institutions.

Sar News correspondent adds that since the State of Jammu and Kashmir enjoys special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution laws passed by the Indian Parliament are not extended to the state unless the State Legislature asks for it. The State has its own Constitution and flag.

A resolution was adopted at the end of the seminar that demanded:

1. Reservation of seats for children of minority communities in professional colleges

2. Quota for the Minority communities in the State Services

3. Benefits to Dalit Christians as are available to their counterparts in other Buddhism, Sikhism and Hinduism.