Will field independent candidates in upcoming J&K assembly polls: APSCC

Srinagar, Aug 13: The All-Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) on Tuesday said that it will field independent candidates in the upcoming Assembly Elections in the Union Territory of J&K.

The APSCC said that the failure brought upon them by the successive political parties in the region has compelled them to make this move, which they said would "teach them (political parties) a lesson."

Condemning the reservation policy issued by the government, the APSCC said that it is unfortunate that the seats have been reserved for scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, and Kashmir Pandits while the Sikhs have been left out.

A statement by the APSCC said that they have met the retired judge Ranjana Desai who is heading the Delimitation Commission and that they are hoping to get representation in some seats.
Terming the reservation as discrimination, the APSCC said that they will field their candidate from the seat where there is a majority of Sikhs who can be a "game changer."

While appealing the Sikh community of J&K, the APSCC said that they will announce the seats and the name of the candidate after the things have been finalised.

Expressing their criticism of the successive political regimes, the APSCC said that these political parties didn't take any steps "towards the betterment of the Sikh community and only used the community for vote bank politics."

The APSCC also said that the "discriminatory job packages should be probed and that they will pressure the administration to change it."

It also said that after the abrogation of Article-370, a shadow has been cast over the Punjabi language in J&K.

"Since the language was recognized by the constitution of erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir it does not hold ground since Jammu & Kashmir has been downgraded into a union territory," read a statement by the APSCC.

They demanded the restoration of the Punjabi language which they said has a strong base in education models of the overall education system of J&K.

The APSCC also demanded that sufficient electricity should be provided to the people of J&K.

"The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) should supply 50 percent of the power produced in Jammu & Kashmir projects to the people of this union territory. This will solve the power shortage issue," the APSCC said.