Baramulla, July 5: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, on Tuesday said that Sikhs were integral part of Kashmiriyat.
“The community has lived with Muslims in the Valley through ages in an atmosphere of brotherhood and amity. Both have faced challenges and stood together in difficult times,” Omar said while addressing a Sikh congregation at Gurudawara Chatti Padshahi here in north Kashmir.
 “The 20-years of disturbance and uncertainty in the Valley didn’t shake the bonds of love and brotherhood between Sikhs and majority community but these got further cemented,” he said adding that his government was committed to the welfare of all people without any consideration of creed, caste, region or religion.
 The Chief Minister said that the pluralistic ethos, cultural diversity, secular amity and brotherhood are the specialty of the State. “Kashmiriyat denotes tolerance, mutual amity, respect to each other’s faiths and equal opportunity to grow. It represents love, brotherhood and trust,” he said adding that Hindu, Muslim and Sikhs have equally contributed to safeguards the high principles of Kashmiriyat.
 The Chief Minister said that the slogan of “Hindu, Muslim and Sikh Itihad” raised by the Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah has always loomed large on the State’s secular democratic spectrum and will continue to strengthen the secular characteristic of the State.
 The Chief Minister paid tributes to Guru Hargobind Singh on his birthday today and said that religious leaders and spiritual personalities have always worked for the welfare of mankind and against the evils.
 He felicitated the Sikh brethren and said that the best way to pay homage to Guru Ji is to extend helping hand to every needy, seek betterment of people universally and perform duty sincerely and truthfully.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 5 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 5 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 6 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST