Srinagar, Feb 03 (KNS): All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) has impressed upon Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) to fulfill the commitments made with the Sikh community of the state before the two parties entered into an alliance for government formation in March last year.
Referring to the demands made by PDP President Mehbooba Mufti seeking re-assurance from BJP led central government, APSCC Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said that PDP President should ensure that promises made with the Sikhs of Jammu & Kashmir are kept in case the party renews its alliance with BJP in the state.
“Over the past 10 months or so no step whatsoever has been taken to fulfill the genuine aspirations and demands of the Sikhs of the state. This is despite the fact that promises were made to the community members that their genuine problems would be looked into and those would be subsequently solved,” said Raina.
The APSCC chairman said that PDP had mentioned about the demands of Sikh community in the manifesto for 2014 assembly elections. He said the demands of the community were forgotten by PDP as soon as the party formed the coalition government in the state with BJP.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“Nowadays the PDP President is talking about Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) that need to be taken before PDP forms the next government with BJP in the state. Within the state there is a need to take some concrete CBMs so that the people don’t feel alienated. Granting minority status to Sikhs in the state would be one of such CBMs and it needs to be taken at the earliest,” said Raina.
The APSCC chairman said that any changes in the Agenda of Alliance between PDP and BJP should be made public and not kept as a secret affair. He said the people need to be taken on board in this regard and only then PDP should form the next government in the state with BJP.
“It is high time that the former coalition partners in the state especially PDP pulls up its socks and ensures that minority status is given to Sikhs of Jammu & Kashmir. National Commission for Minority Act needs to be extended to Jammu & Kashmir failing which the Sikhs of the state would be forced to carry out agitation in support of their demands. Political parties of the state more so those in power would be responsible for the consequences thereof,” said Raina. (KNS)