BJP leader seeks minority status for Hindus in 8 states

New Delhi : A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader has filed public interest litigation in Supreme Court seeking minority status for Hindus in at least 8 states. 

The PIL says that minority status should be allotted so that the Hindu community can also avail legitimate benefits.

“According to 2011 Census, Hindus are minority in eight states i.e. Lakshadweep (2.5%), Mizoram (2.75%), Nagaland (8.75%), Meghalaya (11.53%), J&K (28.44%), Arunachal Pradesh (29%), Manipur (31.39%) and Punjab (38.40%)," the PIL states.

The PIL also mentioned, "Hindus in these states are being siphoned off illegally and arbitrarily to the majority population because neither Central nor the state governments have notified Hindus as a ‘minority’ under Section 2(c) of National Commission for Minority Act. Therefore, Hindus are being deprived of their basic rights, guaranteed under Articles 25 to 30.”

BJP leader Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay has filed the petition in the Supreme Court.