SHILLONG, SEPT 16: Senior BJP leader and Pynthorumkhrah legislator A L Hek on Wednesday said indigenous faiths like Seng Khasi, Niam Tre and Sein Raj are entitled to minority status on the lines of other religions.

Referring to the constitutional provisions, Hek said minority religious status has already been granted to several communities.

“If you go by Article 29 and 30, the Government of India has given minority religious status to Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, Islam and other religious groups,” Hek said.

He said indigenous faiths such as Sein Raj and Sein Jaintia follow traditional beliefs and should not be deprived of the same benefits.

“Sein Raj, Sein Jaintia are also indigenous faiths, they believe in traditional faiths,” he said.

Hek argued that if Christians, who are tribals, are given minority facilities, the same should be extended to followers of Seng Khasi and Sein Raj who are also tribals.

“Once you have given to me, the tribal, as a Christian the facilities of the minority status, why should we deprive Seng Khasi, Seng Raj? They are also entitled to the same because they are also tribal,” Hek said.

“The Seng Khasi, Seng Raj, they are tribal, we Christians also we are tribal. Christians being tribals are given these facilities, they have to also give to Seng Khasi, Seng Raj,” he added.

Hek said he would take up the matter with the National Commission for Minorities.

“I have to write to the Minority Commission, I have not sent it, but I will be writing to the Minority Commission,” he said.

He said some leaders of Seng Khasi had approached him and discussed the issue. “I have some Seng Khasi leaders, they talked to me not as Seng Khasi but as a friend, so we discussed about this and I said this is your right, why should we deprive your right,” Hek said.