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| PDP gets shot in arm as APSCC decides to support it in Assembly elections | | NC, Congress, BJP candidates set to be rejected | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Nov 15: In a major jolt to the leading mainstream parties like National Conference, Congress and BharatiyaJanta Party (BJP) the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) today came out in support of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates for the assembly elections starting from November 25.
Addressing a press conference here, APSCC Chairman, Jagmohan Singh Raina said that National Conference-Congress coalition government virtually ditched the Sikh community and deprived them of the benefits which were due to them as a minority community. He said the leaders of both these parties have exploited the Sikhs while doing nothing for their betterment and welfare.
"As soon as Omar Abdullah became the chief minister we met him and apprised him of the issues confronting the Sikh community. The issues were small and not big and these could have been addressed by the government in due course of time. Later on we carried out three more meetings with the CM but of no use as the issues remained unaddressed," said Jagmohan.
The APSCC Chairman said that NC-Congress coalition government always put the issues of Sikh community at the backburner while doing nothing practical on the ground. He said the Sikhs in the state are disillusioned with both these parties and want to teach them the lesson during the assembly elections.
"At the time of parliamentary elections APSCC asked the members of community to boycott National Conference and Congress candidates and same happened. It was due to our efforts that none of candidates of these parties emerged victorious in the parliamentary elections. We are going to repeat the same boycott call of coalition candidates for the assembly elections as well," said Jagmohan.
The APSCC Chairman said that Sikhs constitute an important component of the overall electorate in the state and no political party can take them for granted in the coming assembly elections. He claimed that in 12 assembly segments in Jammu division Sikh voters would decide the fate of the candidates fighting the elections.
"The Congress party carried out the genocide of Sikhs in different parts of India and how can we give votes to the candidates of this party. We are in constant touch with our community members in Jammu and we would ensure that neither National Conference nor Congress candidates get Sikh votes in the assembly elections," said Jagmohan.
In a veiled attack on BJP the APSCC Chairman said that they would not allow any political party to divide the people on religious lines. He said the polarization is dangerous for the state adding that the committee would always stand for Kashmiriyat in the state. He asked the people to remain vigilant about these people and political parties.
"Peoples Democratic Party Patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in an election rally at R S Pura referred to the problems and issues of the Sikh community. He said that discrimination has been going on with the Sikhs of the state and assured that this would come to end once he comes to power. As such we have decided to strengthen PDP and its candidates in the assembly elections," said Jagmohan.
The APSCC Chairman said that National Commission of Minorities has clearly spelt out that Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains are minorities in India. He said that for reasons best known to them the state government did not extend the National Minority Act to the Sikhs of Jammu & Kashmir.
"The scheme is fully sponsored and there is no burden on the state ex-chequer. As on date the Sikhs of Jammu & Kashmir are not a minority and continue to be deprived of the privileges due to them. Former Chairman, National Commission for Minorities WajahatHabibullah wrote many times to state government to introduce the Minority Act but of no use," said Jagmohan.
The APSCC Chairman said that last year during Gurupurab celebrations the chief minister announced that elections for GurdwaraPrabhandhak Committee would be conducted soon. He said although notification was issued few days later on the elections were not held. He said the non-holding of elections meant that schemes for development of members within the community cannot be pursued.
"We made representation to the higher ups in the government about the introduction of Punjabi subject in the schools and colleges in the Kashmir valley. The introduction of this subject would have created employment opportunities for members of Sikh community. Here too we got mere assurances with no solution at the end of the day," said Jagmohan.
The APSCC Chairman said that agricultural and horticultural losses suffered by the community members over the past 24 years have not been calculated by the state government and its machinery. He said condition of members of community who had to shift from villages and settle in cities as well towns is pitiable. |
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