Odishatv Bureau
Srinagar: Asserting that Sikhs are an integral part of Kashmiriyat, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the community has lived with Muslims in the Valley through ages in an atmosphere of brotherhood and amity.

In his felicitation message to the community on "Gurupurab" at Gurudawara Chatti Padshahi, Omar said Sikhs and Muslims have faced challenges and stood together in times of difficulty.

"The 20 years of disturbance and uncertainty in the Valley didn?t shake the bonds of love and brotherhood between Sikhs and the majority community but these got further cemented," he said.

The Chief Minister said his government is committed to the welfare of all peoples of the state without any consideration of creed, caste, region or religion.

"Kashmiriyat denotes tolerance, mutual amity, respect for each other?s faiths and equal opportunity to grow. It represents love, brotherhood and trust," he said adding that Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs have equally contributed to safeguard the unique identity.

The Chief Minister said the slogan of "Hindu, Muslim and Sikh Itihad" (Unity) raised and propagated by Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad 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 saying that religious leaders and spiritual personalities have always worked for the welfare of mankind and against evils.

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