Minority Affairs MoS meets religious sects

SHILLONG, June 19: Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, John Barla who is on a two-day visit to the state, held an inter-faith meeting with leader of different religious sects on Sunday.
During the programme the Union MoS tried to clear the misconception that minorities only mean Muslims and said there are several other tribes and communities who are minorities and they need to come forward and avail the benefits of the host of schemes that the Ministry of Minority Ministry has to offer in terms of education, healthcare and youth affairs.
The MoS is scheduled to visit the Shillong Gurudwara, the Buddhist Monastery, the Glass Mosque and the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians on Monday morning following which he will hold meetings with Governor Satya Pal Malik and officials of the Social Welfare department.
The minister will attend a meeting at the state BJP office on Tuesday.
In a related development, the BJP state leadership recently met Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda and apprised him of the failure of the NPP-led MDA government to set up Eklayva model residential schools sanctioned for Meghalaya.
BJP national council member, Bashailang Khongwir along with the party’s Meghalaya in-charge M Chuba Ao impressed upon the minister to organise a National Tribal Festival in the state.
They also met Union MoS for Finance Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad and discussed the poor fiscal condition of the state and also the need to set up more land ports in the state to facilitate export activities.