APSCC demands rollback of farm laws

SRINAGAR — All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) chairman, Jagmohan Singh Raina on Monday said that Government of India should rollback the recently introduced farm laws since the same are against the farming country of India.

He said that 70 per cent population of Jammu and Kashmir is associated with agriculture and horticulture and as such support for farmers is natural.

Referring to the issues confronting the Sikh community of Jammu & Kashmir, the APSCC chairman said that New Delhi should give share to the Sikhs in the employment package announced for the non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits.

He said that Punjabi should be taught in government and private schools where the Sikh population is visible, adding that National Commission for Minorities Act should be implemented in Jammu & Kashmir.

Raina asked the Sikhs not to vote for the political parties that have been in power in Jammu & Kashmir and done nothing for redressing the issues of the community. He said that Sikhs of Kashmir valley and Jammu division should be united in this regard and they should be vigilant about the agenda of political parties that have been at forefront in discrimination against the community members.

“Over the years, we met chief ministers of erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir and projected problems being faced by the Sikh community but they did nothing in solving these problems. Since Sikh votes are important at places like Jammu, Samba, Kathua, R S Pura, Nowshera, Rajouri, Poonch, Batamaloo, Amira Kadal, Tral, Baramulla, Pahalgam and Rafiabad, it is imperative that community members vote for people who are sincere towards them more so in solving the problems,” said APSCC chairman.

Raina said that Government of India has embarked upon a plan to marginalize the Sikh community in Jammu & Kashmir while showering benefits on the Kashmiri Pandit community, both the migrants and non-migrants.

He said that by withdrawing Punjabi language as a recognized language in Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of India, the New Delhi has badly bruised the sentiments of Sikhs of the country, especially those living in Jammu & Kashmir.