Sikh body demands implementation of inter caste marriage Act in J&K

Srinagar: Demanding implementation of inter caste marriage Act in the Jammu and Kashmir, All Party Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) on Wednesday said this will put an end to unfortunate incidents witnessed recently.

In a statement here, APSCC chairman Jagmohan Singh Rain said the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir has been living in harmony with the majority Muslim community.

He said over the years, many attempts were made to create a wedge between the two communities by the vested interests. However, the nefarious designs got defeated due to the strong bond that exists between the two communities.

But, he said, since some unfortunate incidents came to the fore in the recent past, it is important that both Muslims and Sikhs maintain the communal harmony and brotherhood. The people need to remain vigilant and ensure that the congenial atmosphere does not get vitiated. Since both the communities have supported each other through thick and thin, it is the responsibility of members of both communities to continue with the synergy.

''I on the behalf of the Sikh community would request that the Inter Caste Marriage Act is implemented in Jammu & Kashmir. Once this Act is put in practice in J&K, the inter-caste marriages would come to an end automatically. This would safeguard the interests of the people belonging to different faiths and religions. The elements who want to have mileage out of such marriages would also face an inevitable defeat,'' Raina said.

He said over the years, members of elite political families of Jammu and Kashmir have been indulged in inter-caste marriage but surprisingly nobody pointed fingers towards them. Whenever such an incident happens in a normal family, the issue gets blown out of proportion. This needs to be analysed and people should be vigilant so that the opportunistic politicians don't exploit them.

At the same time, it is also important that Anti-Conversion Law is implemented in Jammu and Kashmir which would stop the forcible conversion of people belonging to any religion whatsoever. As a result of the same, friction between the different communities would also come to an end once for all. There would be no tensions between the communities and all the people would live without fear, APSCC chairman said.

The APSCC has over the past many decades thrived for betterment of minorities and the Committee would continue to play such a role in future as well. ''We have been meeting top notch authorities both in the central government and erstwhile state government in this regard and continue to knock at the doors of the concerned stakeholders. Most of the demands of Sikh community were not been fulfilled by the successive government,'' he said. (UNI)