Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 21: Balvinder Singh, an RTI activist and president Sikh Progressive Front along with Manjit Singh, general secretary) and Rajinder Singh Sudan joint secretary, today appealed to the Sikh community to support the candidates or the party committed to protect the rights of Sikhs.
Addressing a press conference today these leaders highlighted long-standing issues concerning the Sikh community in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. They expressed deep concern over the consistent neglect of the Sikh community’s genuine demands by successive Governments in J&K, despite the community’s significant contributions to the secular and social fabric of the region and the nation.
Balvinder Singh emphasized the community’s dissatisfaction with the “step-motherly” treatment received from the successive Governments. In light of this, the Sikh Progressive Front has resolved to support only candidates of those political parties that explicitly commit to safeguarding Sikh interests in their manifestos.
The Front reiterated key demands, including introduction of Punjabi as a subject from primary to higher education levels; inclusion of Punjabi in the JKUT Official Language Bill 2020, which was excluded under the BJP regime; political reservation for Sikhs akin to the provisions made for SC, ST, OBC, Pahari, Gujjar and KPs, either under the Migrant or PoJK quota, to ensure Sikh representation in the State Assembly; inclusion of Sikh youths from the valley in the special employment package provided to K-Pandits under SRO 412, within the non-migrant quota; granting OBC status to 54,000 Sikhs residing in Kashmir; implementation of the National Minority Commission Act in JKUT and relocation of the statue of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur from the 4th Bridge to Kunjwani Chowk.
They unanimously urged the Sikh community to stand united and hold the candidates from previously ruling parties accountable for their failure to address Sikh demands.
Singh urged the community to vote for party/candidate who have demonstrated a genuine commitment to address Sikh grievances and who ensure that the demand of Sikh Community will be incorporated in their party’s election manifesto.
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