Lingayat issue: MHA forwards proposal to Minority Affairs Ministry
Begnaluru: The Home Ministry has forwarded the state government's recommendation to grant religious minority status to the Lingayats to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, saying the issue is beyond its jurisdiction, an official said on Thursday.
"The proposal to grant the minority status on Lingayats and Veerashaivas in Karnataka has been sent to the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The matter is now being dealt by it," the Home Ministry official said.
The Home Ministry had put up the proposal to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner for detailed examination and suggestions and it was later decided to sent it to the Minority Affairs Ministry, he added.
The official said the issue was "beyond the MHA jurisdiction and hence was forwarded to the Ministry of Minorities Affairs, which is the competent authority to take a decision."
According to the official, a decision on the issue is not expected soon as the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in Karnataka, where Assembly elections are due on May 12.
On March 19, the Karnataka government had decided to declare the Lingayats as a religious minority, as well as include Veerashaivas as a group within the community. The state then forwarded the proposal to the Centre for approval and notification under the National Commission for Minorities Act.
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Kerala: Seven-year-old dies after window frame falls on him
Pathanamthitta (Kerala) (PTI): A seven-year-old boy died after a window frame fell on him at his residence here on Sunday, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Drupath, son of Thanoj Kumar, a resident of Ezhamkulam near Adoor.
According to the FIR, the incident occurred around 9 am when a window frame that had been leaning against a wall toppled.
Police said the boy was climbing on the window rods when the frame suddenly fell on him.
He was first rushed to a nearby hospital and later shifted to a health facility, where he succumbed to his injuries, officials said.
Police have registered a case of unnatural death and launched an investigation.
