Campaign to check female sex ratio decline in Punjab: Josh

Amritsar, Mar 18 (UNI) National Minority Commission member Harcharan Singh Josh today advocated launching of a social reforms campaign to prevent a further decline in the female population in Punjab.

The census figures showed that the sex ratio was 893 against the national average of 933.

Mr Josh, who had parleys on this subject with various sikh leaders and organisations including Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedyanti, told mediapersons here that the Sikh leadership had also expressed their concern over this issue.

He said that marriages should be solemnised in gurdwaras without any wasteful expenditures.

Commenting on the demand of various organisations of replacing Hindu Marriage Act with Anandkarj Act for the Sikhs, as the community has to face lot of problems while availing visas for going abroad, he said the commission would discuss the issue in detail as Sikhs have ''a separate identity from Hindus''.

Regarding other demands of Sikh organisations pertaining to the All India Sikh Gurdwara Act and sending a huge Jatha of 10,000 sikh devotees to Pakistan in june in connection with the martyrdom day of fifth Sikh Guru Arjun Dev, Mr Josh said that the Commission will take up the matter with concerned authorities.

Replying to a question regarding Sikh youth detained in Jodhpur jail, Mr Josh said that this matter would be taken up with the Home Ministry for their early release.

Regarding giving general amnesty to the Sikh terrorists settled abroad, he said if they wanted to join mainstream and to live a peaceful life in India, their case would be taken up with the concerned ministry on the pattern of Jammu and Kashmir ultras with whome the Centre had been holding talks.

To a question about the release of Sarabjit Singh detained in Pakistan jail under the death sentence he said the Prime Minister has taken up the matter with Pak Government.

He expressed concern over the turban issue in France and added the Central Government had already taken up the matter with the French Government.

UNI XC VKJ SB ND1820