All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) in J&K have demanded minority status for the socio-economic upliftment of their community. A delegation of Sikh leaders led by APSCC Chairman, Jagmohan Singh Raina met here today with the Chief minister of J&K, Mehbooba Mufti. Sikh delegation has expressed concern over the discrimination and negligence of government in resolving the issues faced by Sikhs ever since eruption of turmoil in J&K.Sikhs being a microscopic community in J&K have to fight for their minority status, despite the fact that they are considered as a minority in India under the Minority Act of National Minority Commission of India 2C of 1992 along with other communities, including Muslims, Buddhists and Christians.In the past few decades governments have used “divide and rule“ policies against Sikhs, but now time has changed, said Raina to chief minister. “Performance of govt. is the key of vote bank.”“No progress is visible on the demands made from time to time to the people at helm in state these days, by the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee, said Jagmohan Singh Raina.
He said to the utter disappointment of the community members, provision of National Commission of Minority Act are yet to be implemented in J&K. During the campaign for the Election 2014, PDP promised to grant the minority status to Sikhs of J&K as per the guidelines of National Commission for Minorities Act. Granting of Minorities Act as per the Act itself was also incorporated in the Election Manifesto of PDP for state elections in 2014, Raina reminded to Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Minister of J&K state.Delegation comprised of prominent sikh leaders including Paramjit Singh Bali (Kanwal Kashmiri), Sahitya Academy awardee ; Dr. Joginder Singh Shan, a PDP leader and President GPC ; Ajit Singh Mastana ; Sant Singh ; Gurdyal Singh and others. They conveyed to Mehbooba Mufti in the meeting that members of Sikh community had great hopes from PDP that their genuine demands would be fulfilled.
After last election Sikhs were quiet optimistic that their long pending problems would be solved, adding that there has been disappointment for them so far. But again Chief Minister’s assurance generated another hope.Sikh delegation expressed their concern to chief minister over the strategy of Central Government of not resolving their issues and neglecting the Sikh minority in J&K state in granting favourable packages to selective communities.The delegation also raised other pending demands of Sikhs, with Mehbooba Mufti including, restoring of teaching staff for Punjabi language in colleges and schools ; issuing of the state subject certificate and other certificates through central authority or Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Office on the pattern of issuing of state subject certificates by Migrant Commissioner.Sikh community has assured chief minister for the maintenance of peaceful brotherhood with the majority of state. Our stand is clear that we have and always will live in peace and harmony with the Muslim brothers in state. (KNS)