Sikhs demand representation in J&K cabinet

The Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir today demanded representation in the state cabinet, claiming that there has been no Sikh minister in the J&K government for more than a decade.
"A deputation of the elected members of the District Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (DGPC) Jammu met Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and demanded that there has been no Sikh representative in the state government for more than a decade. The deputation demanded the induction of a Sikh minister in J&K government," DGPC member Avtar Singh Khalsa said here.
The members submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, which included the demand for the formation of a minority community in the state.

"We also demand that Punjabi language should be introduced at the school level and posts for Punjabi teachers be created in the schools," Singh said.
The deputation stated that the compensation amount announced by the Centre for the 1947, 1965 and 1971 refugees was "meagre" and appealed to the government to give an amount of Rs 25 lakh per refugee family, he said.
"The deputation also urged that a compensation should be given to the kin of Sikh youth Jasjeet Singh killed in June over the poster row and demanded an immediate transfer of SSP Jammu, who ordered firing at the peaceful protestors, as there was an anguish against the officer amongst the community members", he said.