Lok Sabha Question No. 1969 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Safety, Welfare and Protection of Minority Communities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Charanjit Singh Channi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No-1969

ANSWERED ON -11/02/2026

## SAFETY, WELFARE AND PROTECTION OF MINORITY COMMUNITIES

1969. SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of recent reports and representations indicating that  minority  communities  are  facing  repeated  issues  related  to  safety,  discrimination,  social insecurity and law and order disturbances and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of incidents reported during the last three years concerning minority communities in Punjab  including  cases  of  violence,  intimidation,  damage  to  religious  places  and  denial  of  basic rights;
- (c) the steps taken by the Union Government in coordination with the State Government to ensure the safety, constitutional rights and social harmony of minority communities in the State; and
- (d) whether any special schemes, monitoring mechanisms or Central assistance have been initiated or proposed to address these concerns and strengthen confidence among minority communities in Punjab and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) Public order and Police  are subjects  under the State list  in  the  Seventh  Schedule of the Constitution  of  India.  State  Governments  are  entrusted  with  responsibility  for  prevention, detection and investigation of such crimes and for prosecuting criminals through legal processes.

The safeguards for the protection of interests of Minorities are mandated in the provisions of the Constitution of India under Articles 15(1) & (2), 16(1) & (2), 25(1), 26, 28, 29(2), 30(1), 30(1A), 30(2).

However,  petitions  are  received  in  the  National  Commission  for  Minorities  in  which instances of violence, attacks, religious rights etc. are cited against minorities in the country. The Commission also takes Suo-Moto cognizance of these incidents.

- (b) The  National  Commission  for  Minorities  (NCM)  does  not  maintain  data  under  the categories  of  violence,  intimidation,  damage  to  religious  places,  or  denial  of  basic  rights. However,  data  under  the  categories  of  law  and  order  and  religious  rights  are  annexed  as Annexure-I.
- (c) & (d) As per Section 9(1) (d) of the NCM Act 1992, the petitions and Suo-Moto cases are taken up with the concerned Authorities/State Governments for redressal of grievances.

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Annexure referred in reply  to  part  (b)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  1969  for A nswer on 11.02.2026 regarding ' Safety, Welfare and Protection of Minority Communities '.

Grievances/complaints  received  from  Punjab  under  the  Category  'Law  and  Order  Matters'  and 'Religious Rights' during last three years in the National Commission for Minorities:

| Category              |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |   2024-25 |
|-----------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Law and Order Matters |        08 |        25 |        19 |
| Religious Rights      |        04 |        07 |         0 |