Irshad Hussain
Expressing resentment over the recent killings in the Kashmir valley, the leaders of the Sikh community on Saturday addressing a press conference said that the administration failed to provide security to minorities.
The press conference in Srinagar’s Amira Kadal was addressed by Sardar Budh Singh of Guduwara Parbandh committee, Sardar Navtej Singh, Dr. Sukhwinder Singh.
Emphasizing on the fact that the woman named Supinder Kaur who was principal of the Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Eidgah in downtown Srinagar was killed in a targeted attack, Dr. Sukhwinder Singh said, “They (teachers) were made to queue up and their ID cards were checked, these two (the deceased) were taken out of the queue and then shot dead.”
Dr .Sukhwinder Singh said that it is a major security loop and the administration should be blamed for it. “The killings did not start that day, many had been killed before Supinder was shot dead, Why did the administration not secure the minorities?” he asked. “Because the administration failed to protect us, our daughter (Supinder) had to pay the price,” he stated.
Thanking the Muslim Community and leaders for their equal condemnation over the killing, Sardar Navtej Singh said, “We thank the Muslim leaders for standing with us in this hour of grief, they have strongly condemned the killings,” he said. He however questioned the absence of Muslims in the funeral procession of the Sikh woman. He said that the community expects the participation of Muslims.
Several other Sikhs, The Kashmiriyat spoke to said that they have felt safe in the valley not because of the state, but because of the Local Muslims who has been always supportive. A Sikh Activist, Angad Singh Khalsa said, “We have not been troubled when the security vehicles were not seen in downtown Srinagar in 2010, nobody harassed us during those critical times, when the state machinery was non-functional for months together.”
He said that the Sikhs will not leave the valley. “They have always played politics on our bodies, both alive and dead,” Angad said, adding, “We will not let anyone play politics over our dead bodies,”
Addressing the press conference they also said that the minority community members will not attend the duty unless the administration assures their protection in the valley.
Sardar Sukhwinder said, “The Sikhs of the valley did not leave after the inhumane Chittisinghpora Massacre and we are not going to leave now, This is where we belong, we are as Kashmiris as anyone else is.”