Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Aug 18: Sikhs today threatened to march to Parliament House in New Delhi on foot from Srinagar’s Lal Chowk if the Central and State Governments fail to address their problems immediately.
In his speech on the second and final day of the two day ethnic Sikh Conference, All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) Chairman, Jagmohan Singh Raina said the genuine issues of the Sikhs living in the state, mostly of those living in Kashmir valley are not being addressed by the Central and State Governments.
“The Sikh community has suffered a lot and their just demands have not been met by the successive Governments at the centre and also in the State. Now we are giving a final chance to both the Governments at New Delhi and the State to fulfill our demands. If they do it well and good, otherwise all the Sikhs of the State would march towards Parliament House and raise their voice,” said Jagmohan.
He said that the members of the parliament would be made aware about the ‘pathetic’ condition of the Sikhs living in the State. He reiterated his demand that the Sikh members of parliament should take up the issue vigorously so that some difference is made to the condition of the Sikhs.
Jagmohan’s call for protest march was seconded by the 600 delegates who took part in the two day conference. The delegates were drawn from different parts of the State including Baramulla, Kupwara, Srinagar, Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri.
He renewed his demand for granting the minority status to the Sikhs living in the state saying that this is the need of the hour. He said the constitution gives all the basic rights to the Sikhs under the Minorities Act.
“The Minority Commission is pumping lot of funds into the state and many needy and poor children are taking benefits from it. If the funds are spent in the right direction then more children belonging to the minorities would take benefit. This whole process has to be organized so that the loopholes are less,” said Jagmohan.
Prominent Sikh leader from Poonch, Harcharan Singh Khalsa demanded that the Sikh Marriage Act which is applicable all over the India should also be implemented in the State.
He urged the State legislature to pass the necessary Act in this regard at the earliest.
Dr. Jaipal Singh Bali, Sikh leader from Baramulla dwelt upon the issue of compensation for Sikhs who suffered losses in agricultural and horticulture sectors during the two decades of militancy.
Prominent Sikh writer and leader of Akali Dal (Badal) Ajeet Singh Mastana asked the State Government to fill up the posts teachers and lecturers in Punjabi. Master Hakumat Singh impressed upon the need to solve Jammu and Kashmir issue saying that this would bring about peace not only in the State but in entire sub-continent
All Sikh Federation leaders including Harjeet Singh Sweety, GPC President Dr. Mohan Singh Shant, Niranjan Singh District President Anantnag and Jasbir Singh Oberoi President KDF demanded immediate holding of Gurdwara elections.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel