Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said his government favours redefining the minority status of religious groups district–wise instead of taking the country as a whole.
He told the Assembly on Wednesday that Muslims, who many think are the only minorities in India, are a majority in several districts of Assam.
“Even Hindus can be termed minority if there is a threat to their religion, culture and education. Hindus can be minorities in one State depending on the situation and threat perception,” Mr. Sarma said.
He said his government will wait for the judgment of the Supreme Court in a case on letting a State define the minority status of various groups.
“I will try to make the government of Assam a party to the case and present our views on defining the religious minorities district–wise,” the Chief Minister said.
The apex court is hearing a petition by BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay who argued that the Hindus are a minority in 10 States and Union Territories but cannot avail themselves of the benefits of the government schemes for minorities.
These 10 States and UTs are Ladakh, Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur.
According to the 2011 Census, Hindus account for 61.47% of Assam’s population of 3.12 crore. Muslims constitute 34.22% of the population and are in a majority in at least nine districts.
