Sikhs in J&K suffered due to NC's failure to set up Minority Commission: Khalsa

JAMMU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader and former MLC S. Charanjit Singh Khalsa has strongly criticized the National Conference (NC) for what he termed as its continued neglect of the Sikh community during its long years in power in Jammu and Kashmir. He alleged that despite ruling the erstwhile state for the maximum period after Independence, the NC failed to take meaningful steps for the welfare, empowerment and protection of Sikh minorities.

 S. Charanjit Singh Khalsa said that one of the biggest failures of the National Conference was its inability and unwillingness to establish a Minority Commission in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that despite repeated demands from Sikh organizations and community representatives, the NC government never demonstrated seriousness towards creating an institutional mechanism to safeguard the rights and interests of minority communities.

Khalsa said that the absence of a Minority Commission deprived Sikhs and other minorities of a dedicated platform through which their grievances and concerns could be addressed effectively. He said that the community suffered due to the lack of constitutional and administrative support that such a commission could have provided.

The former MLC further accused the NC of deliberately delaying the effective implementation of the Gurudwara Act. He said that while announcements and assurances were repeatedly made, the Act was never implemented in its true spirit, thereby denying the Sikh community transparent and democratic management of its religious institutions.

Highlighting another major concern, Khalsa pointed out that elections to Jammu Kashmir Gurudwara Prabandhak Board has not been conducted for three consecutive terms. He described this as a serious democratic failure and blamed successive NC-led administrations for not ensuring timely elections. Such prolonged delays, he said, have weakened accountability and denied the Sikh community its rightful participation in the management of Gurudwara affairs.

S. Charanjit Singh Khalsa further charged the National Conference with exploiting the sentiments of Sikhs merely to secure their votes during elections. He alleged that the party remembered the community only during poll campaigns but failed to fulfil its commitments once in power.

Khalsa asserted that the Sikh community of Jammu and Kashmir is politically aware and will not be misled by hollow promises. He said that the time has come for political parties to be judged on their performance and commitment rather than rhetoric, adding that the community expects justice, representation and genuine empowerment.