The delegation was led by Jagmohan Singh Raina, chairman of the All-Party Sikh Coordination Community, and GS Gill, chairman of the same community. The delegation expressed concern over the discrimination against the community during various governments. It also highlighted the hardships faced by Sikhs after the turmoil in J&K in the early 1990s.
They also pointed out that young Sikhs are mostly unemployed and were finding it difficult to pursue higher education because of financial constraints. They demanded that Sikh families migrating from villages to Srinagar be given the status of migrants within the state.
They said the provision of National Commission of Minority Act was yet to be implemented in the state.
Virenderjeet Singh, chairman of the National Sikh Front of J&K, said, “Sikhs in Kashmir have to fight for their minority status, despite the fact that they are considered a minority in India under the Minority Act of National Minority Commission of India, 2C of 1992, along with other communities.”
He added, “ We (Sikhs) are also being asked for migration certificates, while applying for job or buying properties. We have been living here since pre-Independence period. This is our fight since long time for our fundamental rights.”
The Home Minister has assured the delegation that their demands would be taken up on a priority basis by a core committee on Kashmir Affairs instituted by the Government of India.
The delegation had on Sunday met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and apprised her of their demands. They also raised other demands, including restoring of teaching-staff for Punjabi language in colleges and schools, issuing of the state subject certificate and other certificates through central authority or Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Office on the pattern of issuing of state subject certificates by Migrant Commissioner.