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Security to be beefed up for J&K Sikhs

The Central government on Friday decided to beef up security for Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir and improve employment avenues for them.

Briefing reporters after meeting Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, J&K Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah said, "The Centre has agreed to enhance security for Sikhs and also improve their employment avenues."

Other than Vajpayee and Abdullah, Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, Union Chemical and Fertilizers Minister S S Dhindsa, External Affairs Minister Jaswant, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Chamanlal Gupta and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra attended the meeting.

The meeting was called after the killing of six Sikhs by militants in Srinagar, which was followed by a death of a Sikh youth in police firing during protests against the killings.

However, Dhindsa told reporters that the decision to extend the unilateral ceasefire did not figure in the meeting and the agenda was the protection of Sikhs in J&K.

Dhindsa also denied reports that Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal had criticised Abdullah's government on the killings.

Speaking on the ceasefire, Dr Abdullah said, "The ceasefire has paid dividends and ushered in peace on the border."

Abdullah also welcomed the Centre's move to protect Sikhs but said it should provide funds for employment of Sikhs.

He said that the central government would also take the security and employment generation for Kashmiri Pandits into consideration. A delegation of Kashmiri Pandits will be meeting L K Advani shortly.

Dr Abdullah also said that the policemen who had fired on Sikhs recently would be punished. "There is no way you can escape if you shoot innocent people."

Meanwhile, Defence Minister George Fernandes will visit Srinagar on Saturday to check security arrangements for the Sikhs.

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