Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 5: A delegation of All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) leaders led by its chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina today called on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and sought minority status for the socio-economic upliftment of their community.
During the meeting, the Sikh delegation expressed concern over the discrimination and negligence of Government in resolving the issues faced by Sikhs ever since eruption of militancy 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 along with other communities, including Muslims, Buddhists and Christians,” said a statement of APSCC here.
He said to the utter disappointment of the community members, provisions 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.
The delegation conveyed to Mehbooba Mufti 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,” Raina said in a statement.
“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 in granting favourable packages to selective communities,” said the APSCC chairman.
The delegation also raised other pending demands 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.
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