Bring Constitutional amendment for Sikhs: Akali MP to Khurshid

In a letter to Law Minister Salman Khurshid today, Akali MP from Kadoor Sahib (Punjab) Rattan Singh Ajnala has called upon him to bring out the amendment officially to meet demands of the three minority communities.

Ajnala, who has been allowed by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to introduce a Private Member Bill in the House, said Sikhism have been established as a separate religion.

"I request you to kindly bring this amendment officially to satisfy three minority communities of the country. There will not be any opposition to this demand," Ajnala said in his letter today.

"I may bring to your notice that this is a very simple amendment where by omitting the word 'i.E.' and adding comma (,) will serve the purpose," he said.

The Akali MP brought to Khurshid's notice that they had earlier discussed the matter regarding bringing an amendment in Section 25 of the Article 25 of the Constitution in order to provide independent religious status to Sikhs, Buddhist and Jain communities.

He said the Constitutional Review Commission appointed by the Government has already recommended in its report to make amendment in this article, which he said, can be done by rephrasing the sub-clause (B) and Clause (2) of the Article.

The Akali leader said Sikhs have already been recognised as minority community by the Parliament while constituting the National Commission for Minorities.