Srinagar, Nov 10 (KNS): All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) Tuesday formally launched its agitation against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government in the state. The APSCC members accused the state government of not fulfilling its demands that are pending for a long time now.
Scores of members of Sikh community assembled at the banks of river Jhelum near Zero Bridge and raised protest against the indifference of people at helm in the state. The protesters said that the state government has forgotten them and is in no mood to fulfill the genuine demands of the Sikh community in Jammu & Kashmir.
The protesters sat on dharna for more than one hour and raised slogans in support of their demands. The protesters were carrying banners and placards in their hands and demanded immediate solution to the issues confronting the Sikh community in the state. They warned the coalition partners of dire consequences if the demands are not met at the earliest.
Speaking on this occasion APSCC Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said that despite giving an ultimatum of 20 days the state government did not move an inch towards the fulfillment of demands of Sikh community. Raina said that state government has failed to extend the National Minority Act to the Sikhs of Jammu & Kashmir.
“We had given an ultimatum of 20 days to the government to look into our issues and redress them accordingly. However, it is shocking and disappointing that chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed did not utter a single word in this matter and same is the case with his ministerial colleagues,” said APSCC Chairman.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Raina said that PDP in its election manifesto had written that minority status would be given to the Sikhs of Jammu & Kashmir. He said that PDP-BJP government in the state is more than eight months old but still then there is no progress with respect to fulfillment of demands of Sikhs in the state.
“Let me reiterate that many of the PDP candidates won the elections due to the votes cast by the Sikhs in their respective constituencies. It is quite disappointing and disheartening that these legislators along with the others in the government are turning a deaf ear to the genuine problems of Sikhs in the state. They should mend their ways otherwise the day is not far off when the present government would get dislodged,” said APSCC Chairman.
Raina said that PDP-BJP government is following the footsteps of the previous National Conference-Congress government. He said that similar protests would be carried out in different districts of Kashmir followed by Jammu division. He said that agitation would be peaceful in the first phase adding that situation would be assessed with the passage of time. He added that next phase of agitation would be carried out at Baramulla on November 12.
The others who spoke on the occasion include Joginder Singh Shan President GPC Pulwama, renowned writer Paramjit Singh Bali alias Kanwal Kashmiri, Principal Naranjan Singh, Santpal Singh President GPC Budgam, Janak Singh Ex GPC Secretary Srinagar, Daleep Singh Deepak Ex GPC President & Hakumkt Singh Zeo Ex Secretary GPC Budgam and Gurdayal Singh & Deedar Singh Ex director Sports and some leaders of Sikh Youth Federation. (KNS)