**Executive Summary**
This document presents the response by the Minister of Minority Affairs to Unstarred Question No. 1969 in Lok Sabha on February 11, 2026, concerning the safety, welfare, and protection of minority communities, particularly in Punjab. It addresses the government's cognizance of issues faced by minority communities, details of reported incidents, steps taken to ensure their safety and rights, and any special schemes or assistance. Data on grievances/complaints received from Punjab under the categories "Law and Order Matters" and "Religious Rights” during the last three years in the National Commission for Minorities is also included.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **State Government Responsibility:** Public order and police are State subjects, entrusting State Governments with the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of crimes.
* **Constitutional Safeguards:** The protection of the interests of minorities is mandated under various articles of the Constitution of India.
* **National Commission for Minorities (NCM):**
* The NCM receives petitions and takes Suo-Moto cognizance of incidents related to violence, attacks, and religious rights violations against minorities.
* The NCM does not maintain data under specific categories like violence, intimidation, damage to religious places, or denial of basic rights. However, data under law and order and religious rights is attached as Annexure-I.
* Petitions and Suo-Moto cases are taken up with concerned Authorities/State Governments for grievance redressal, as per Section 9(1)(d) of the NCM Act 1992.
* **Annexure-I:** Contains data on 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:
* Law and Order Matters: 8 (2022-23), 25 (2023-24), 19 (2024-25)
* Religious Rights: 4 (2022-23), 7 (2023-24), 0 (2024-25)
**Impact Analysis**
**Minority Communities**
* **Impact:** Addressed the government’s steps in response to the safety concerns, discrimination, and social insecurity faced by minority communities, with a particular focus on Punjab.
* **Action Required:** None specified; the document provides information on actions taken by the government and existing mechanisms for grievance redressal.
**State Governments (Specifically Punjab)**
* **Impact:** The State Government is reminded of its responsibility to maintain public order and address issues faced by minority communities.
* **Action Required:** Continue to ensure the safety, constitutional rights, and social harmony of minority communities; address grievances brought forth by the NCM.
**National Commission for Minorities (NCM)**
* **Impact:** The NCM needs to continue processing petitions and Suo-Moto cases to address grievances of minority communities.
* **Action Required:** Take up cases with relevant authorities and state governments for grievance redressal as per established procedures and document data accordingly.
Key Entities Referenced
National Commission for Minorities (NCM): Statutory body that receives petitions and takes Suo-Moto cognizance of incidents against minorities.
NCM Act 1992, Section 9(1)(d): The section of the Act that allows the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to address grievances of minorities.
Constitution of India: Referenced for its provisions on safeguards for the protection of the interests of minorities under Articles 15(1) & (2), 16(1) & (2), 25(1), 26, 28, 29(2), 30(1), 30(1A), 30(2).
Ministry of Minority Affairs: Union ministry responsible for the welfare and protection of minority communities; the subject of the parliamentary question.
Punjab: State for which specific incidents related to minority communities are requested and addressed.
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.
*****Annexure- I
Annexure referred in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1969 for
Answer 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