Decades of unfulfilled promises and systematic neglect by successive governments of different political parties have prompted the Sikh leadership in Kashmir to embark on a groundbreaking mass contact initiative. Under the banner of the All Party Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC), community leaders will fan out across the valley, reaching out to every Sikh household to amplify their concerns. WSN reports.

In a significant development that signals a shift in the community’s political stance, The All Party Sikh Coordination Committee has announced that they will no longer support any political party’s candidate. Instead, they will identify and promote candidates from within the Sikh community.

“We are a live community which has suffered, which has been ignored and is being politically disarmed by reducing us to merely a vote bank. Enough is enough. We have decided to resist this with all our might.”

As per the 2011 census, the total number of Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir is 234,848, which makes up only 1.87 percent of the state.

Over the last many decades, we have been meeting the people at the helm with legitimate demands of the Sikh community, expressed a visibly distressed Jagmohan Singh Raina, the Chairman of APSCC. He added, “Every time our issues were given a cold shoulder.”

Raina emphasized, “The Sikh community, despite being a minority, has been consistently sidelined. We’ve sought dialogue with Chief Ministers of the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state, governors, and even the central leadership. Yet, light at the end of the tunnel remains elusive.”

While the Sikh population in Kashmir isn’t extensive, their rich history and close ties with the majority Kashmiri Muslim community make their voice crucial in the valley’s socio-political landscape. A sentiment echoed by Raina, “We have shared happiness and sorrow with the members of the majority community during turmoil and crises. We have been with them through thick and thin.”

“We have shared happiness and sorrow with the members of the majority community during turmoil and crises. We have been with them through thick and thin.”

One of the key issues raised during the conference was the non-conduct of the Jammu & Kashmir Gurdwara Parbandhak Board elections, despite the intervention of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha. In addition, the deliberate omission of the National Minority Act in J&K post the abrogation of Article 370 and the negligence towards re-introducing the Punjabi language in educational institutions was also highlighted.

Raina lamented, “It’s extremely unfortunate that packages meant for minorities that did not migrate were manipulated. The same was changed for the benefit of the favourite minority.”

“It’s extremely unfortunate that packages meant for minorities that did not migrate were manipulated. The same was changed for the benefit of the favourite minority.”

Jagmohan Singh Raina, Chairperson, All Party Sikh Coordination Committee, Kashmir

The conference saw participation from Sikh leaders and Gurudwara committee members from across the valley, including Principal Niranjan Singh, Ex-President GPC Pulwama, Sant Singh, Indumeet Singh, Devinder Singh, and Gurudwara committee members from Kashmir valley including Navtej Singh, Engg. Jetinder Singh, Jasbir Singh, Sukhbirb Singh, Harpal Singh, Nishant Singh.

As the community prepares for its outreach program, the broader narrative of the Kashmiri Sikhs’ demand for justice and rightful representation gains momentum. Their close ties with the Kashmiri Muslim community, stemming from a shared history of resilience, ensure that their voice, though suppressed, will never be silenced.