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| Sikh community raises concerns over political representation in Jammu and Kashmir | | | 
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 3: President of Displaced Kashmiri Sikhs Conference (DKSC), Harmohinder Singh, expresses concern over the marginalization of the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir. In a press conference today, he highlighted the plight of the 3.5 lakh Sikhs in the UT who have faced immense hardships since 1947.
Singh emphasized that Sikhs have lost lives, homes, and their identity, and have been neglected by vested interests aiming to tarnish their image and keep them away from political empowerment. Despite the government’s efforts to uplift minorities economically and politically, Sikhs have not been granted political reservations like other communities, including the migrant Kashmiri pundits.
He raised the demand for at least 4 MLA seats to be reserved for the Sikh community, 2 each in Kashmir and Jammu provinces, following the model of Union Territory Puducherry and Sikkim. Singh urged the government to ensure democratic rights for the Sikh community and not discriminate against them.
Highlighting the unity and integrity shown by the beleaguered Sikh community in Kashmir, Singh stressed that they have always stood for the country despite facing challenges. He mentioned that since 1990, around 350 Sikhs have been killed in the valley, indicating a higher percentage of killings compared to other communities. Many Sikhs have also been displaced, with nearly 10,000 registered with the relief commissioner’s office in Jammu.
Harmohinder Singh demanded the nomination of one MLA from the Kashmiri Sikh displaced community and two Sikh MLAs from the POJK (Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir) refugees of 1947. He urged all Sikhs to unite under one banner to achieve political representation and avoid a political vacuum in the assembly.
Singh expressed hope that the Modi government would listen to the aspirations of the Sikh community and work towards fulfilling their long-standing demands. He believed that the government’s slogan of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas” would be realized for Sikhs as well. |
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