Sikhs Air Their Grievances

[Azaad]

Sikhs settled in various parts of the country other than Punjab shared their grievances with members of the National Commission for Minorities in the union Capital on Friday.

They not only highlighted problems faced by them in the field of education and employment, but also other socio-economic issues that affect their normal day-to-day life.

The meeting was called at the initiative of former MP HS Hanspal, a member of the commission, and saw representatives of South Indian, Bengali and Bihari Sikhs, besides those of sikligars, lubhanas, vanjaras and other communities.

Chairman, Minorities Commission, Mohammad Shafi Quereshi and members Michael Pinto and Spalz Angmo also attended the meeting. The chairman wanted representatives of Sikhs to send in writing their problems so that the commission could seek necessary remedial measures to the Centre.

One of the speakers referred to the work done by scholar Himadri Banerjee about weaker sections of the Sikh community that had made different parts of India their home. They wanted that these pockets, including those in Patna, Sachkhand Hazur Sahib and South India, needed special attention.

They also highlighted the problems of language and representation to minorities in local and state administrations, besides some assurance on employment opportunities in public and private sectors. The members explained to the participants as to what provisions of the Constitution could be used by them for the redressal of their common problems.

Among those who represented the Sikhs, a minute minority community in the country, included Mohinder Singh, Sutinder Singh Noor, Manjit Singh, Bhupinderpal Singh, Manohar Singh Batra, Harmit Singh, Surinderpal Singh, Surjit Kaur Jolly, Gurbhej Singh Goraya, Pushpinder Singh, Parkash Singh Gill, Jaswinder Kaur, Amandeep Singh, MS Honey, HS Taneja, Parminder Singh Manchanda and Kamaljit Singh.