80,000 Sikhs extend favour to PDP in Kashmir

Addressing a media in Srinagar at party head office, Chairman APSCC Jagmohan Singh Raina criticized the Center government as well as the state government for not doing justice with Sikh community of the state.

"NC- led government has failed to reveal the mystery behind killing of 18 innocent Sikhs in 1984 at Reasi, 14 innocent Sikhs on January 13, 1989 in Jammu , 36 innocent Sikhs in Chittisingpura in Kashmir on March 2000. It has also failed to make the Ansari Commission report public which reflects its indifference towards the community," he said and added that the Sikh community which is around 80,000 will support the PDP.

The APSCC recently convened a two day session of the community members in which more than 900 delegates took part. It was unanimously decided that the politicians who have exploited the sentiments of the community would be out-rightly rejected this time around. It was also resolved that some of the members of community who have over the years exploited the overall community would also be shown the door.

Raina  said APSCC believes that there is no fun in following political parties that have done nothing for the community over the past 60 years.

"The leaders of these political parties are interested in their votes only and show no concern whatsoever towards the problems of the Sikh community. Therefore, voting for such political parties and politicians would be a mere wastage of time and energy. Above all, we would lose the opportunity of electing a right person for a period of six years," he said.

He alleged that NC has cheated the Sikh community 'and the front-runner in this is the Congress'.

"We voted for National Conference in 2008 Assembly elections as this party promised us that Sikhs will be granted minority status, but from last six years this party (NC) did nothing in this direction," Raina said

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)