SRINAGAR -- Demanding minority status for their community in Jammu and Kashmir, a Sikh outfit today held a sit-in protest against the state government here and accused it of not fulfilling the long-pending demand of the community.
Scores of members of the Sikh community assembled at a park on the banks of the Jhelum river near Zero Bridge here and protested against the "indifference of people at helm in the state".
The protesters, under the banner of All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC), alleged that the J&K government had "forgotten them and was in no mood to fulfil the genuine demands of the Sikh community in the state."
"Despite giving an ultimatum of 20 days, the state government did not move an inch towards the fulfilment of demands of Sikh community. The state government has failed to extend the National Minority Act to the Sikhs of Jammu and Kashmir.
"It is shocking and disappointing that Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed did not utter a single word in this matter and same is the case with his ministerial colleagues," APSCC chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said.
Raina said the ruling PDP, in its election manifesto, had agreed that minority status would be given to the Sikhs of the state.
"Let me reiterate that many of the PDP candidates won the elections due to the votes cast by the Sikhs in their respective constituencies. It is quite disappointing and disheartening that these legislators along with the others in the government are turning a deaf ear to the genuine problems of Sikhs in the state," he said.
Raina said similar protests will be held in different districts of Kashmir Valley followed by Jammu division.
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