JAMMU (Kashmir English): Various Sikh bodies have strongly rejected the divisive communal agenda in the name of a separate Jammu state, demanding restoration of the pre-August 5, 2019 status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Sikh bodies, including Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Sikh Council International, Sikh Federation, and Sikh Students Federation, addressed a press conference in Jammu, strongly condemning and rejecting the divisive agenda in the name of a separate Jammu state, intended to dismantle and destroy the unity of Jammu and Kashmir.
They said a united Jammu and Kashmir is more viable for economic and political stability.
The Sikh bodies stated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir share a historical and cultural unity, but unfortunately, certain communal elements, under the guise of a separate Jammu demand, are initiating Jammu and Kashmir politics of hate, which will badly harm the collective and secular character of the region.
Consequently, people of Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley have voiced their demand for divisional status, and the minority Sikh community in the territory is deeply concerned and worried about its identity and future in the wake of such voices for communal demographic changes.
Sikh community in Kashmir
The minority Sikh community is scattered in different regions of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and the recent delimitation process has already badly diluted and dismantled the vote bank of the Sikh community in the territory.
They appealed to the people of all regions of Jammu and Kashmir to initiate a peaceful, united movement for the restoration of the statehood status as of August 5, 2019, of the territory.
The Sikh bodies said that just prior to the 2024 Assembly Elections in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, on September 17, 2024, the Sikh community had extended their support to the alliance headed by Farooq Abdullah, and on September 24, 2024, they had submitted a detailed memorandum to Farooq Abdullah about Sikh demands, issues, and the continuous discrimination.
They believed that they are being neglected as the minority Sikh community in matters of their Punjabi language, political reservation, minority status, refugee issues, discrimination in SRO-425, and in the delimitation process, among other vital issues and concerns.
The press conference was jointly addressed by Sikh leaders, including Narinder Singh Khalsa, Inderjeet Singh, Harmanan Singh, Charanjit Singh, Harasses Singh, Manjeet Singh, Harbaksh Singh, Surinder Singh, Davinder Singh, Tarlochan Singh, Gajan Singh, Gurtegh Singh, Rajinder Singh, and many others.
