ASPCC demands minority status for Sikhs

SRINAGAR, Dec 18:The All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (ASPCC), which has been demanding minority status to the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir , today observed the Minority Day as black day. It has also urged the State and Central governments to fulfill the 65-years-long promises made to the minorities, particularly Sikh community of the State. In a statement issued here today, the APSCC Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said that it has been impressing upon the State and Central governments to implement National Minorities Act in its original form in J&K. He lamented that till date the governments had totally ignored the minorities in Jammu and Kashmir and put on hold the legitimate demands of minorities.

Jagmohan Singh Raina added that during 1947 more than 5300 families of sikh community have moved out of state and as per govt. record 31600 families got settled in various camps of Jammu and 11000 families from districts Budgam and Baramulla suffered heavy losses of their properties due to raiders. Recent turmoil has also given a big blow to the economy of the Sikh community in Kashmir and outer regions of Jammu and Poonch ,but so far neither state nor central govt. has taken any cognizance. No compensation and any policy have been made for their development so far.

Describing the Minorities Rights day as only a slogan, the APSCC chairman said that the day was being observed as black day. He urged the state and central governments not to play with the feelings and emotions of minorities in J&K as till date we have not been granted any minority status in J&K. The National Commission for Minorities observes the Minority Rights Day every year on December 18. The commission has played a major role in protecting the rights of the minority communities and in bringing about better understanding among the various religious minority communities in India but have failed at J&K state. “I also urge them to impress upon the state government to implement the National Minorities Commission in J&K state” Raina said