Complaining of lack of powers, the National Commission for Minorities has made a strong pitch for parity with other such panels in the country.

In a letter to the secretary of ministry of minority affairs, the commission has said, "It can discharge its mandated function fully and effectively only if it is invested with instrumentalities on the lines of those given to National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)."

The commission had earlier said that while NCSC is more powerful as it is a constitutional body, NHRC's mandate gives it vast powers, unlike NCM, which is a mere statutory body whose activities are confined to very few areas.

In the letter, the commission said it needs the powers to inquire and investigate at par with National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), NCSC and NHRC. It said that the National Commission for Women and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights also have similar powers.

It also made a strong pitch for constitutional status, saying this will not only enhance the status of the commission but will also strengthen the implementing framework intended to safeguard the rights of religious minorities.