Jammu & Kashmir Sikh body against minority status for Kashmiri Pandits

SRINAGAR: A Sikh organisation in Kashmir today opposed the recommendation of a Parliamentary Standing Committee on granting minority status to Kashmiri Pandits saying such a move will have "serious repercussions".

"The recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee to give minority status to Kashmiri Pandits is in contravention to the guidelines set out by the National Commission for Minorities as far as the classification is concerned.

"We expect the Indian government to reject these recommendations. If these recommendations are accepted, Sikhs will have no option left but to launch an agitation to seek justice for the community," All Parties Migrant Coordination Committee chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina told reporters here.

He said the National Minority Act needs to be implemented in letter and spirit in Jammu and Kashmir so that the Sikh community gets the privileges that they are entitled to.