KABUL - Some Afghan Hindus and Sikhs on Sunday slammed as bigotry the Wolesi Jirga rejection of a legislative decree reserving a parliamentary seat for minorities.

Via the decree, President Hamid Karzai had sought representation for the Hindu and Sikh minorities in the top lawmaking body, but the parliament threw out the order.

On September 4, Karzai signed the legislative decree in accordance with Article 79 of the constitution and the electoral law.

The article says: “During the recess of the House of Representatives, the government shall, in case of an immediate need, issue legislative decrees, except in matters related to budget and financial affairs…”

Legislative decrees, after their endorsement by the president, have to be presented to the National Assembly within 30 days of its first session. If rejected by the National Assembly, they become void.

On Saturday, the Wolesi Jirga Legislative Commission placed the decree before the house for endorsement after it was thoroughly debated by different parliamentary panels.

Nazir Ahmad Hanafi, the commission head, said 13 of the 18 permanent house panels had opposed the decree. He claimed the orders were in conflict with Articles 22 and 83 of the constitution.

Article 22 prohibits any kind of discrimination and privilege between the citizens of Afghanistan. All citizens -- whether man or woman -- have equal rights and duties before the law.

Similarly, Article 83 says members of the Wolesi Jirga are elected by the people through free, general, secret and direct elections. The election shall be held within 30 to 60 days before the expiry of the term of the Wolesi Jirga.

Royor Singh, head of the Afghan Hindu and Sikh Council, condemned the rejection of the presidential decree was a brazen act of discrimination and prejudice.

He said they had fielded their candidates in parliamentary election, but they could not find their way to the legislature for want of ballots and political support.

“We had asked the president to reserve a seat in parliament for us, because we are minorities and cannot win it through election,” he said.

Seizure of the properties belonging to Hindus and Sikhs, lack of crematoriums and the absence of schools were major problems of the Afghan minorities, he said, adding they needed a representative in the Wolesi Jirga. (Pajhwok)