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Muslims are our

best security,

say Kashmiri Sikhs

NEW DELHI: Sikhs in Indian occupied Kashmir have categorically rejected the Indian government's offer of setting up village defence committees (VOC) by the Indian government, saying that the Kashmiri Muslims are their best protection, reports 'Gulf Today'.

According to the report, Sikhs in occupied Kashmir had rejected BJP government's plan to set up village defence committees, members of which would be armed by the government. Charan Singh Bali, spokesman for a Sikh forum, said his community wanted "to live here with dignity and honour without taking to the gun," adding that "We do not need any security. The majority community (of Muslims) is our best protection."

Meanwhile, Sabir Shah, an influential leader of Kashmiri freedom fighters who has spent more than 20 years in different Indian prisons, said that Kashmiri Muslims would provide protection to the Kashmiri Sikhs against Indian forces' atrocities, the report said.

'The Asian Age', an influential Indian daily, has accused BJP government of planning to change occupied Kashmiris demography. In an exclusive article, the paper disclosed that most of the Kashmiri leadership was of the opinion that BJP government was surreptitiously changing the demography of the state by implementing a policy of ethnic cleansing.ÑAPP