STATE TIMES NEWS JAMMU: Welcoming initiative of Prime Minister and Home Minister for setting into motion the democratic process after delimitation, Sudershan Singh Wazir, Chairman Sikh United Front J&K demanded that, as a special case, Sikhs should be made party to the process and be invited for any further discussion and negotiations. Explaining in detail, Wazir said that by and large Sikh community in J&K, belong to refugee families of PoK who were forced to migrate to this part of country during 1947 and the Reorganization Act has reserved 24 assembly seats for PoK, as earlier also this reservation of assembly seats was existing. “Since the delimitation process is going on, refugees of PoK want at least 8 to 10 assembly seats to be reserved for them besides existing number of assembly seats as they have genuine right for the share,” Wazir said in a press conference here on Monday. Wazir welcomed the initiative and benefits doled out to Kashmiri Pandits but at the same time, demanded similar treatment for PoK refugees or in alternative, PoK should be liberated enabling refugee families and their next generations to go back and settle in their homelands. Darbinder Singh President Shiromani Akali Dal J&K, Mohinder Singh Chief Organizer Bhai Kaniya Nishkam Sewa Society expressed shock and anguish over condition of Sikh families in Kashmir. They specially mentioned about the abduction of Sikh girls at gunpoint and then marrying them to Muslims after conversion. The member warned UT administration of dire consequences, adding that if strict action is not taken to undo all such incidents, the Sikhs will resort to agitation path. All Sikh organizations extended their unequivocal support to Sikhs living in Kashmir. The representatives of Sikh organisations and leaders, who attended the press conference included Rajinder Singh General Secretary Shiromani Akali Dal J&K, Raja Singh Sarpanch member DGPC Jammu, Ravinder Singh Sarpanch & General Secretary Shiromani Akali Dal J&K, Charanjeet Singh retired SDM, Gajan Singh President J&K Motor Company Association, Paramjit Singh Ex Corporator, Kulwant Singh Khajuria Joint Secretary Shiromani Akali Dal J&K, Charan Singh Bali convenor Kashmir Province, Surinder Singh Kala President Fruit and Vegetable association, Harpreet Singh Chottu President Youth Akali Dal J&K, Prof. Yudhvir Singh Corporator, Surinder Singh Dutt, Surjeet Singh Kukoo President Sikh Naujawan Sabha, Kuldeep Kour President Istri Akali Dal J&K, Gurmeet Kour General Secretary Istri Akali Dal J&K, Harpreet Singh Lucky President Sikh Student Federation Manmohan Singh Chairman Gole Gujral, Rasbir Singh, Kuldeep Singh Malik, S.Kulwant Singh, Kultar Singh, and Tejpal Singh.
