Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 30: All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) today castigated Government for its failure to grant minority status to the Sikh community and expressed displeasure over “non-fulfilment” of its demands.
Addressing a press conference here, the APSCC Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said Government had promised them a minority status during 2014 elections but has failed to “deliver on its promises” after attaining power. “In its election manifesto for 2014 assembly election the ruling party had promised a minority status to Sikh Community but the party forgot the promise after winning the election,” he said.
He further said that recently State Government in Supreme Court opposed the minority status to the Sikhs, which suggests that the parties pursue different agenda after attaining power. “The government has virtually backtracked from its election promise and is taking steps against our favour”.
He further said a state-wide protest could not be ruled out if Government continues to ‘deny rights’ to minorities. “The Government should take a cue from Jat agitation that led to devastation in Haryana. We cannot rule out an agitation by members of Sikh community in that region of the state and the government will be responsible for the consequence,” Raina said.
He added that unlike the past, the organisation do not want members of Sikh community to vote for a particular candidate or party in the upcoming Lok Sabha by-polls. “Sikhs are free to vote for anybody and in case they deem it fit not to vote the APSCC would not force them to change their decision,” Raina added.
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