A high level delegation led by the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) President Mr. Manjit Singh GK and General Secretary Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa today met J&K Governor Mr. NN Vohra and took up the issue of attempt to forceful conversion of sikh girl from Tral in Avantipura district and also other problems being faced by the sikh residing in the state. Mr. Parmjit Singh Rana Chairman Dharam Prachar Committee of DSGMC, Mr. Jagdip Singh Kahlon member DSGMC and Mr. Charanjit Singh Khalsa member MLC J&K were also part of the delegation which was sent by Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal President the Shiromani Akali Dal.The delegation apprised the Governor that how an incident of forceful conversion of a Sikh Minority woman of Village Gadpura, Tral, Distt. Awantipura, has happened and urged him that necessary stringent steps should be taken for the safety of Minority community and their fundamental rights in the state. It also informed him that the DSGMC has decided to bear the expenses of education of the said girl and will also provide any help required by the family. The Governor was also told that it was fault of Vice Chancellor who failed to take action on the complaints of victim Girl and her father against the culprits.
Talking to media after the meeting, Mr. Manjit Singh GK and Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa disclosed that they have apprised the governor about the social, economic and political condition of the Sikh community living in Jammu & Kashmir and migrated Sikhs from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK). They informed him that there are more than 5 Lakh Sikhs are residing in J&K out of which 3200 are living in Kashmir Valley and rest of them in Jammu region. The Sikhs which are living in J&K are being deprived of basic amenities, as State Government did nothing for their resettlement and well being in the last 70 years. This is their third generation that is going on whose forefathers were forcefully removed from their land due to external aggression by Pak army in 1947 and their properties left by their forefathers whether it is movable or immovable is in POJK. The irony is that the Sikhs were left without any compensation whereas Indians (Kashmiri Pandits) who migrated in 1990 within the country due to militancy were fully accommodated by the State and Central Governments even though they have sold their properties in Kashmir and have got proper insurance cover along with other facilities. But we are very sorry to point out that a step-motherly treatment is meted out to POJK people particularly Sikhs. Children of Kashmiri Pandits are still getting job reservation, admission quota, land and relief package whereas children of POJK 1947 sharnarthis (refugees) who were forced to migrate are still not accommodated till date.
The delegation also informed the Governor that the economic condition of Sikh community in J&K is very deplorable, they are still living in different camps with no proper land, no residential houses, no job reservation, no admission quota and no comprehensive package in lieu of their properties left in POJK was given to them. In short, Sikhs are living on the mercy of Almighty. Recently, a small relief package of 2000 crore i.e. Rs.5.5 lakh was awarded in favour of each displaced family by Modi Government which is still in offing. That the criteria for one time settlement for displaced persons of POJK 1947 and quantum of compensation to be calculated on the guidelines of Joint Parliamentary Committee of Home Affairs Report No. 183 is 30 Lakh per family be implemented.It also said that the Sikhs in J&K are considered to be B-class citizens as they have no say/representation in J&K Assembly. There are 89 legislative assembly and 32 legislative council seats in J&K but it is most painful to say that none of the seats is allocated to Sikhs in J&K and at present there is no Sikh MLA in J&K and no minority status is given to them. They said that the Sikhs are settled/scattered in different camps of different constituencies where Sikhs cannot win any seat but are a deciding factor. The Delegation also informed the Governor that as per the Report no.183 laid on the table of Lok Sabha on 22-12-2014 and presented to Rajya Sabha on 22-12-2014 by Joint Parliament Committee, regarding the problems being faced by refugees and Displaced Persons in J&K wherein it was recommended to give One time interim relief of Rs.30 lakh per family, Reservation of their wards in Technical Institutions,Constitution of Welfare and Relief Commission/Development Board for them,Official registration of DPs from WPR, POJK and Chhamba, POJK DPs families living outside the State should also be granted PRCs and a Nodal Officer may be appointed in Delhi for granting them PRC as being done for Kashmiri Migrants, Employment Package, Provision of monthly cash doles, ration money,De-freezing of 8 seats in the State Legislative Assembly for POJK DPs. Reservation of POJK Refugees in the Upper and Lower House of the J&K Legislative, “Sufficient Interim Relief” be given immediately till the finalization of the One Time Compensation, which according to Govt. is being incorporated in the Package and Issuance of ALC Certificate for these living along the border belt. They informed him that it is most unfortunate to say that no progress has been made in this connection till date.It urged that Governor that in the interest of justice particularly to displaced Sikhs from POJK, Sikhs should be granted minority status, Anand Marriage Act should be implemented in state, a Relief Package to the Sikhs displaced from PoJK and effected during terrorism activities in the valley should be sanctioned, Grant of Equal Status to DP Sikhs in matter of reservation and J&K Sikhs should be included as Sikh migrants on the pattern of Kashmiri Pandits in the notification issued by Department of Relief and Rehabilitation by Government of Jammu & Kashmir dated 10-10-2017 so that they will have equal rights in opportunities like job reservation, admissions quota and relief package etc. besides other accepting other demands of the sikh community.After giving a patient hearing to the delegation Honorable Governor directed the state DGP Mr. SP Vaid to take immediate action against the culprits of forcing the girl to convert into Islam and also lauded the efforts being made by the DSGMC and issued raised by the delegation concerning the Sikhs residing in valley.Meanwhile Mr. GK and Mr. Sirsa informed that the DSGMC has appointed the victim girl as Pracharak with the DSGMC on permanent basis. She will work in state particularly the Kashmir valley in the religious field.