Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday acceded to accord micro minority status to the Sikh community in the state and provide various facilities for socio, economic and political upliftment of the Sikh community in the state of Assam.
The decision was taken after Sikh delegation led by the Delhi MLA and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) General Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday met Sonowal, demanding a Sikh Development Council in the State for the Assamese Sikhs, along with special status facilities. The delegation also presented him a memorandum demanding special status and facilities for the microscopic minority Sikh community in the state.
Attending the meeting, Sonowal has agreed to implement the Anand Marriage Act in the State at the earliest for registration of marriage of Sikh couple, starting a pilgrimage tour for the Sikh community to their places of religious importance in the country including Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.
It may be noted that there are nearly one lakh members in the Sikh community in Assam, out of which, 15,000 are the Assamese Sikhs, mostly concentrated around Nagaon.
While acknowledging the role of the Sikhs in forming the greater Assamese society, the Chief Minister assured the delegation of taking up all of their demands on priority basis to empower the community.
“The Chief Minister has agreed to most of our demands, including approved allotment of 10 bighas of land for setting up social welfare projects in Guwahati and Nagaon and also approved setting of three skill development centres in Nagaon as early as possible. He also accepted the demand for renovation and restoration of historical Gurdwaras in the State and asked the delegation to provide a list of the same,” Sirsa, the MLA of Rajouri Garden (Delhi Assembly Constituency) said.
He also assured that all the problems being faced by the minority community in the state will be looked into and their resolution will be ensured at the earliest. Sonowal lauded the efforts of the delegation who had brought to his notice the problems being faced by the community and assured all help to it.
Sonowal also said that their government is committed to ensure justice to all and provide equal opportunity to each and every section of the society, and that the government iss committed for upliftment of minorities and safeguarding their rights.
