(a) whether the Government has received any representation/demand to accord minority status to some more communities including Kashmiri Pandits;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) the action taken by the Government thereon;
(d) whether the Government has taken up this issue with the concerned State Governments including Jammu and Kashmir in this regard; and
(e) if so, the response received from the concerned State Governments in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)
(a)to(e) Representations have been received for according minority status from various communities including Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir, Lingayath community, Seng Khasi and Niam Tre Tribals in Meghalaya, Bahai community, Sindhi community & Jews of India. This Ministry notifies minorities under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. Since the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 is not applicable to the State of Jammu & Kashmir, the issue of according minority status to Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir rests with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir.