JAMMU: Democratic Azad Party chairman and former J&K Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday lauded the contribution of Sikh community for their humanitarian efforts and fighting the enemy whenever needed to protect the country.

Azad met a delegation of Sikh community in Jammu and said that the harmony prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir is its real strength. He said whenever there were crisis on borders and enemies tried to attack our country, the Sikh community was first to respond.

"Sikh community has an inseparable bond with the country and they always paid sacrifices to secure the national interests. They paid with their lives and upheld the national interests," he said.

Azad said that the community has also been on forefront to meet the humanitarian needs whenever and whichever community was in crisis. "Whether it was the COVID 19 situation, earth quake in Kashmir, 2014 floods or the Ukraine- Russia war, Sikhs were first to respond with the humanitarian aid for the desperate people. Such gesture from a small community for the larger humanity can't forgotten and will be written with golden words in the human history," Azad said.

He said the country remember many heroes from the community who laid their lives for the cause of humanity.

Meanwhile, the representatives of the community told Azad that the present regime have no representation from Sikh community. They said that they feel left out and dejected due to step-brotherly treatment by the Government. They demanded the proper representation in the Minority Commission and the Public Service Commission besides at other powerful and influential forums.

Azad, assured the community that if his party (DAP) comes to power, Sikhs will be inalienable part of it. "If we come to power after elections, we can't think running it without your proper representation. Our main agenda is inclusive Government representing every community of Jammu and Kashmir," he assured.

The delegation reposed faith on Azad and his party and assured him that they will stand with him in the elections whenever they take place.

Meanwhile many joined the DAP which includes RK Bhatt, additional secretary retired and others.

Among those who were present in the meeting included former minister RS Chib, Ex- MLA Balwan Singh, Ex- MLC Naresh Gupta, Vickey Mahajan, Vinod Mishra, Salman Nizami, Kirtan Singh, Gurmeent Kaur, Gaurav Chopra and others.