Sikh leaders demand minority status for community

Jammu, Dec 15: All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) today demanded minority status to the communities that have been classified as minorities by the National Commission of Minorities.
Chairman of APSCC Jagmohan Singh Raina, who along with Sikh leaders addressed a press conference here, said given this fact minorities such as Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians need to be given their due share in Jammu & Kashmir. “The APSCC has all along been demanding that since Sikhs fall within the purview of National Minority Act they should be recognized as a minority community in Jammu & Kashmir as well. This would ensure that Sikhs are given the privileges due to minorities in the country.”

“We have been demanding extension of National Minority Act to the Jammu & Kashmir state, but the same has not been done so far. The successive state governments have given a deaf ear to the genuine demand of Sikhs and as such our community is a not a minority in the state. The state government has been maintaining that central laws cannot be extended to Jammu & Kashmir,” he said.
"I am raising question to PDP chief and Chief minister of the state Mehbooba Mufti, to answer publicly that why the government headed by her has filed affidavit in a Supreme Court case against the extension of National Commission of Minority Act to J&K State when this ruling party had clearly promised its extension in their election manifesto during the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections."