Minority status sought for people of indigenous faith

SHILLONG: The office bearers of Seng Khasi and Sein Raij representing the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia tribes, practicing and professing the indigenous religion and faith of Meghalaya, namely Niam Khasi/Niam Tre, met the BJP national president Amit Shah and sought his intervention to declare them as minorities.
After meeting the BJP president, Banteilang Singh Rumnong, general secretary, Seng Khasi, Shillong said that with the spread of Christianity, a large percentage of the members of the Khasi and Jaintia tribes were subjected to conversion.
“Presently, the State is predominantly Christian and the indigenous religious practitioners of Khasi and Jaintia tribes have been reduced to a minority, who if not protected or given due recognition will swiftly erode further,” the Seng Khasi and Sein Raij said in a memorandum submitted to the BJP leader.
According to Rumnong, while the Christians in the state enjoy the privileges of being scheduled tribes and minorities, the Seng Khasi and Sein Raij are yet to be considered minorities and hence asked the centre to intervene in bringing about changes.