Disappointed Sikhs' demands excluded from JK govt's CMP: APSCC

All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) today expressed disappointment over the "exclusion" of the Sikh community's demands in the common minimum programme (CMP) announced by PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir.

"In its manifesto, the PDP had mentioned the long-pending demands of Sikhs in the state, but they seem to have forgotten the same in the CMP agreed upon with the BJP.
"Sikhs voted for the PDP across the Kashmir Valley hoping that their demands would be fulfilled. It seems that we have been forgotten by the leading regional party," APSCC chairman Jagmohan Raina said in a statement here.

Raina said the exclusion of demands like granting minority status to Sikhs in the state has not gone well with the community members.

"The youth of the community were ecstatic over PDP becoming single largest party in the state in the recent Assembly elections thinking that they too would get chances to prosper. But given the CMP, that is not going to be the case for the time being," he said.
However, he expressed hope that Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed would take care of their issues.

"With an able and seasoned campaigner like Mufti Mohammad Sayeed one can hope that things would improve in the coming days. The Chief Minister should take the lead and ensure that long pending demands (of the community) are fulfilled," Raina stated.
He said PDP should take a cue from BJP which had nominated Charanjeet Singh Khalsa for the Legislative Council in the state.

Raina hailed Khalsa's victory saying that the PDP top brass should take measures ensuring due benefits to the Sikh community in the state are granted.