Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 28: Sikh Progressive Front has accused the UT administration of neglecting Sikh community in Jammu Kashmir by not addressing their issues and demands.
Talking to media persons, here today, President of the Front, S Balvinder Singh, lamented that no positive action was taken on their demands and issues, such as political reservation to Sikhs, excluding them from the Non-Migrant Quota, POJK Quota, or OBC Quota, thus denying their right to representation in the JK Assembly.
“Despite assurances from LG Manoj Sinha, during a meeting with SPF delegation on March 14, 2022, where he pledged to advertise vacancies for non-migrant Sikh youths under SRO 425, no action has been taken till date,” he said.
Singh highlighted that a file concerning providing additional ex-gratia to the Next of Kin (NOK’s) of the 14 individuals killed in the Jammu anti Sikh riots of 1989 has been pending in the Civil Secretariat Jammu for over three years. Despite bringing this matter to the attention of the LG, no progress has been made, and the file remains stagnant, gathering dust, he added.
Singh further stated that despite the Sikh community’s consistent advocacy, the Central Government has not addressed their demand to include Punjabi language in the JKUT Official Language Amendment Bill 2020.
Singh emphasized that while the Central and JKUT Governments have ensured representation for various sections of society such as SC, ST, OBC, Paharis, and Gujjars, the Sikh community has been notably excluded.
SPF resented the Government decision for transferring the installation of the statue of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur from Kunjwani to Bhagwati Nagar and and strongly demand naming of Kunjwani Chowk on the name of Baba Banda Singh Bahadhur and installation of suitable statue after the completion of Rotary.
SPF also criticized JKUT administration for not implementing National Minority Commission Act in JKUT and reiterated the demand for inclusion of approximately 54,000 Sikhs in the Valley into the OBC category.
Surinder Singh Wazir, Vice President SPF; Manjit Singh Bali, Gen Secretary, Rajinder Singh Sudan, Joint Secretary, Tejinder Singh member SGPC Jammu and others were present in the press conference.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
