Killing of Minorities Won’t Push Us to Leave Kashmir: Sikh Outfit GPC

 Joginger Singh Shan, member Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (GPC) told reporters that recent killings won’t push them to leave Kashmir.

He expressed surprise over authorities seeking data of Sikh community members in Baramulla district, saying “Sikhs alone are not a minority in Kashmir valley. There are other minorities as well and if they need data of minorities it should collect it from every minority community,” he said.

He said in Lal Ded’s and Noor-ud-Din’s Kashmir, killings of innocent civilians are “unacceptable” and should not have happened.

“Killing of minority members seems a ploy to discord the bond between every section of Kashmiris. I want to clarify that such killings will not push the community members to leave the valley,” he added.

Won’t Attend Duties

The Sikh outfit further said that the employees from the community would not attend duties till the government ensures their safety after recent killings in Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference here, the members of General Secretary, GPC, Navtej Singh alleged the government of failing to provide adequate security to the minorities despite the occurrence of several fateful incidents in the valley.

“There were many inputs and incidents in the past regarding targeting the minorities yet the government didn’t take adequate measures for their security,” Singh said.

He demanded that the government must provide security to Sikh government employees and assure the minority community that they are safe in the valley in present circumstances.

While expressing disappointment over little participation of the majority community in the cremation of teacher Supinder Kour who along with her colleague was shot dead by unknown gunmen on October 7, in Sangam Eidgah here, Singh said “It would have been better if the majority community would have participated in the protest in large numbers. This would have sent a strong message to the perpetrators of the crime.”

The Sikh leader urged the majority community to come forward and condemn the attack on the minority communities.

He added that in the present scenario the minority feels “insecure” to move out and urged upon the government to provide adequate security to the minorities.

“Unless the government assures security to the minorities, none of them would attend the government duties,” Singh warned. Joginger Singh Shan, another member of GPC told reporters that it was shocking that two teachers who were illuminating the society with light were segregated from other staff members and were shot dead “mercilessly”. 

Shan, while condemning the killings of Supinder Kour and her colleague Deepak Chand, alleged, “Government has taken no measures for the safety of the community members.

“Mere words and statements will not work. Stern action at this juncture is needed”, Shan said.