Antulay assures Kyndiah on 103rd ammendment

Shillong, Aug 27 (UNI) Union Minister of Minority Affairs A R Antulay has assured Union Minister of Tribal Affairs P R Kyndiah that the Minority Affairs department would not discriminate anybody based on religion, caste and creed to pursue the 103 amendment of the Constitution.

'' I have noted your and Presbyterian Church of India's concerns and will keep these in mind while taking a final view in the matter,'' Mr Antulay replied in a letter to Mr Kyndiah today.

Earlier, the Presbyterian Church of India (PCI) had also submitted a memorandum to Mr Antulay opposing the proposed 103rd amendment of the Constitution seeking to categorise minority groups in the country on statewise parameter instead of the present nationwide practice.

In fact, the Meghalaya Congress along with the regional parties like the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), also part of the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government in the state had asked the Union Government to rethink the proposed 103rd amendment of the Constitution.

The Christian community in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland at present fall in the Christian tribal category which had been accorded minority status at the national level.

UNI