Sikh bodies seek berth for MLC Khalsa in ministry

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 22

The Sikh community on Sunday demanded representation in the Cabinet during forthcoming expansion. They urged the BJP to induct MLC Charanjeet Singh Khalsa as a minister.

Holding a joint press conference, members of various Sikh organisations said the community, which had contributed greatly to economic and social sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, was feeling neglected due to political under-representation.

Addressing the press conference, District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Jagjeet Singh said, “We have voted for the BJP so that we can get representation in the state government. We are thankful that Khalsa was inducted as an MLC but we feel that it is the time the BJP should induct him into the Cabinet so that Sikh don’t feel that they are being neglected by the BJP-PDP government.”

Manjeet Singh, a social worker from the Kashmir valley, said the ruling coalition was expected to do a major reshuffle and the minority community of Sikhs hoped that a community leader would be inducted so that issues concerning them could be raised and resolved.