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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Taliban-led Afghan govt refutes Pakistan's claim that Indian missile hit Afghanistan
Islamabad, May 10 (PTI): The Taliban-led government in Kabul on Saturday refuted Pakistan's claim that an Indian missile hit Afghanistan, saying no such incident has taken place.
Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson Enaitullah Khawarzmi labelled Pakistan's claims as "false", Hurriyat Radio reported.
He said Pakistan's allegations were "unfounded".
"Afghanistan is safe and secure. No such incident has taken place,” Khaama Press reported, quoting a spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Defence.
India has described Pakistan's allegations as "false" and a "completely ludicrous claim".
Pakistan Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, early Saturday, claimed that one of the missiles fired by India had landed inside Afghan territory.
