SPF Chairman Balvinder Singh Criticizes BJP for Ignoring Sikh Demands Over Nine Years, Raises Concerns on Punjabi Language Rights and Political Representation in Jammu & Kashmir

||Black and White Digital News ||

||August ||22 ,2024 ||

As the political climate heats up in Jammu & Kashmir with upcoming elections, the Sikh Progressive Front (SPF) has raised significant concerns regarding the BJP’s approach to the Sikh community. SPF Chairman Balvinder Singh has voiced his frustrations over what he perceives as the BJP’s negligence towards Sikh issues during their nine years in power, only to now seek community support as elections draw near.

Neglect of Sikh Concerns:

Balvinder Singh criticized BJP leaders for their failure to address the various memorandums submitted to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) and senior bureaucrats. He emphasized that for nearly a decade, the Sikh community has been raising critical issues, yet they have largely been ignored by both the government and BJP leadership at both the regional and central levels.

He expressed his discontent with the BJP’s recent outreach efforts, which he labeled as an “eye wash.” Singh accused the party of awakening from a “deep slumber” only when elections are imminent, and then seeking input for their manifesto from the Sikh community. This sudden interest in Sikh opinions, according to Singh, is insincere and politically motivated.

Punjabi Language Rights and Representation:

Singh highlighted the marginalization of the Punjabi language in Jammu & Kashmir’s educational institutions, questioning why Punjabi has been removed from government schools and colleges and why sanctioned positions for Punjabi language teachers remain unfilled. He also pointed out the exclusion of Punjabi from the Punjabi Language Bill in 2020, a move he claims went unchallenged by BJP leaders.

This lack of action on Punjabi language rights has led Singh to question the BJP’s claims of being well-wishers of the Sikh community. He urged the Sikh community to carefully consider their votes, specifically warning against supporting the BJP unless they commit to reinstating Punjabi language rights.

Political Representation and Minority Rights:

Further, Singh raised concerns about the political representation of Sikhs in Jammu & Kashmir, particularly in the aftermath of the recent delimitation process. Despite the allocation of reserved seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), Sikhs have been left without any reserved seats in the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly. Singh argued that the Sikh community has been deprived of political representation and called for political reservation for Sikhs, including from the migrant quota in Kashmir and for refugees from Pakistan-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (POJK).

Moreover, Singh demanded that the 54,000 Sikhs residing in Kashmir be granted Other Backward Class (OBC) status and criticized the government for failing to implement the Minority Act in Jammu & Kashmir, despite repeated appeals from the community. This lack of recognition and protection under the Minority Act has left Sikhs vulnerable, particularly those living on the international border who have not received the benefits they are entitled to under border schemes.

Appeal for Written Assurance:

In a final appeal, Singh called on all political parties to provide a written assurance that they will fulfill the demands of the Sikh community if they come to power. He stressed that verbal commitments are insufficient and that the Sikh community will not cast their votes unless they receive concrete guarantees of action.

Balvinder Singh’s statement reflects deep-rooted concerns within the Sikh community regarding their cultural and political rights in Jammu & Kashmir. As the region heads into election season, the BJP and other political parties will need to address these concerns head-on if they hope to secure the support of the Sikh electorate.