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Andhra, Karnataka give minority
status to Sikhs
WSN Bureau
NEW DELHI:
Adding
fuel to the controversy regarding granting minority status to Sikhs
in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka granted minority status to
Sikh populations in these states with a view to extending benefits
to the community under the Prime Minister’s new 15-point programme
for minorities. National Commission for Minorities member Harcharan
Singh Josh said the commission had “recently got a letter from the
governments of both AP and Karnataka that Sikhs have been designated
as minority groups”. The move will enable Sikhs in these states to
access benefits for minority communities under various schemes
including those outlined by the much touted new 15-point programme.
Chiranjiv Singh, former additional chief secretary of Karnataka,
said, “The Sikh population in the state is small, the minority
status will help poor members educationally.
It will
especially help Sikhligar and Banjara Sikhs, most of who are below
poverty line.” Yusuf Qureshi, chairman of the Andhra Pradesh
Minorities Commission, said, “The national commission had in a
meeting passed a resolution to provide benefits to te Sikhs in the
state in areas of housing, education and financial assistance for
business ventures.”
The move will
enable Sikhs in these states to also avail scholarships for minority
students in class X and XII. Josh added that state governments have
powers to notify minority community in their states through gazette
notification.
9
April
2008
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