Sikhs demand package, minority status

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 28

Members of the Sikh community held a demonstration at Tral in south Kashmir today in support of their demands, including a package on the pattern of migrant Pandits and minority status for the community in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sikhs belonging to Tral and adjoining areas of Pulwama district took part in the protest. The protesters raised slogans in support of their demands and impressed upon the state government to fulfil the demands of the community.

Addressing the protesters, All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said if the government could announce a package for Pandits living outside the Valley, what was stopping it from extending the package to Sikhs?

Raina sought extension of the National Minority Act to Sikhs in the state according to provisions of the National Commission for Minorities.

“The Centre recently announced that 3,000 jobs would be given to Kashmiri Pandits so that they could come back to the Kashmir valley. We are not against any community, but want to make it clear that we will not allow injustice to the Sikh community,” he said.

In case the demands were not met immediately, they would start an agitation in various areas of the Jammu region, he added.

Pulwama Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee president Joginder Singh Shan and other Sikh leaders from the district addressed the rally and urged the government to fulfil the demands immediately.