Sikh orgs for protection of J&K special status

Srinagar, Aug 9 : The All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) today appealed to all political parties in the state to join hands and defeat the elements who want to change the special status of Jammu & Kashmir by raking up issues like Article 370 and Article 35-A. APSCC is very much concerned about the situation emanating following the reports of alleged tinkering with Article 35-A, chairman of the committee Jagmohan Singh Raina said in a statement adding the debate on it has created a huge row in the state. He said it is the duty of political leadership of Jammu & Kashmir to raise a single voice so that no such step is taken that further threatens the peace and tranquility of the state. He welcomed the meeting between Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah adding that many more steps need to be taken in this regard. “We all should be united on this issue. The leaders of different political parties should give up ego and work for protecting the special status of the state. If we fail at this point of time then the future generations would never forgive us,” said the APSCC Chairman. Mr Raina said any attempt made to change the special status of Jammu & Kashmir would lead to serious ramifications especially in the Valley. He said the move would hamper the daily life of the valley. Since the state is already up against many odds issues like abrogation of Article 370, Article 35-A would add fuel to the fire. “Many attempts are made by various sections within and outside state to create confusion over serious issues like Article 370. BJP’s stand is clear on the abrogation of Article 370 and the party has been advocating the same since many decades now. Now when the party is in absolute majority in Lok Sabha and beginning to show its strength in Rajya Sabha, it wants to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35-A. All this would be done at the cost of law & order situation in Kashmir,” Mr Raina warned. He said Sikhs in Jammu & Kashmir have suffered right from 1947 and the community members have been further uprooted economically and politically for the last 28 years. Both the Central and the state governments have never bothered to redress the issues faced by the Sikhs in the state. It is the minorities that face the unrealised brunt of such troublesome situations, but despite this Sikhs are concerned and stand by Kashmiriyat. The APSCC Chairman said arrest of Hurriyat leaders like Shabir Ahmad Shah, Naeem Khan, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Shahid-ul-Islam and others along with the sons of Syed Ali Shah Geelani without letting the public know about the charges, will further add venom to these political differences. UNI