Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, several political leaders and Sikh bodies on Saturday strongly condemned the attack on a gurdwara in Kabul and urged the Centre to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of minorities in Afghanistan.
Several blasts were reported near the Gurdwara Karte Parwan on Saturday, in the latest targeting of a place of worship of a minority community in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. India has slammed the ''cowardly attack'' and said it is closely monitoring the situation.
“This is an inhuman act and I urge the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to ensure the safety and security of the Sikhs residing in Kabul”, Mann said in a statement issued here. He said that attack on Sikhs in ‘Karte Parwan’ Gurudwara is a shameful and cowardly act of the terrorists who have targeted innocent Sikhs in the holy shrine. He said that the Government of India must flag this issue with the national government of Afghanistan and ensure that no harm is caused to Sikhs residing there. Bhagwant Mann said that the government of India must ensure the safety of the Sikhs in the Gurdwara.
The Chief Minister said that a decisive and swift action needs to be taken by the Prime Minister in this hour of crisis. He bemoaned that it is very unfortunate that the terrorists had not even spared the religious shrines for carrying out such brutal activities. Bhagwant Mann said that this incident has once again proved that the terrorist do not have any religion and their sole aim is to spread terror amongst the masses.
It is very unfortunate that the terrorists had not even spared the religious shrines for carrying out such brutal activities, Mann said, adding the incident has once again proved that the terrorist do not have any religion.
Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said that he was deeply concerned over the attack on the gurdwara in Kabul. "Praying to Waheguru Ji for the safety of all the devotees & citizens stuck inside the premises. Urge the MEA to look into this matter & ensure the safety of all devotees. @DrSjaishankar," said Singh in a tweet. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also urged the Centre to take up the matter with Afghan authorities. "Strongly condemn the ISIS attack on Gurdwara Karte Parwan, Kabul. While praying for the safety of all present in Gurdwara, I urge PM @narendramodi & EAM @DrSjaishankar to take up the matter with Afghanistan govt & ensure the security of all Sikh families & their religious places," said Badal in a tweet.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami said the attack has hurt Sikhs across the globe and urged the Centre to take steps for the evacuation of remaining Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan. Dhami wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to hold talks with the diplomats and ministers concerned to help the Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan. "The incident is extremely painful and it has hurt the Sikhs living across the globe. Since the Taliban takeover of government in Afghanistan, the SGPC, Amritsar, the apex body of Sikhs, has been continuously writing and asking the government of India, to ensure the safety of life and property of Sikhs and Hindus living in Afghanistan by holding talks at the diplomatic levels. Despite repeated alerts about the threat to the lives of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, so far, the government of India has not been able to evacuate them to safety", Dhami wrote in the letter. "Today's attack on Gurdwara Sahib is very unfortunate and shocking for the Sikhs and we are wondering about what the government of India is waiting for? ''So far, arrangements have not been made to evacuate the Sikhs and Hindus still present in Afghanistan," said Dhami.
Condemning the cowardly act Vikram Sahney, Rajya Sabha MP and International President of World Punjabi Organisation, appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs to issue E-visas & evacuate the remaining 164 Sikhs and Hindus in Kabul. “There was heavy smoke and sounds of blasts around the Gurudwara indicating heavy damage and very sad to hear of the death and injury of our Sikh brothers.” Sahney said in a statement. He added the only saving grace is that Guru Granth Saroop was brought out by our brothers to a safe place.
“We are ready to bring them back and provide them rehabilitation like we are doing for 523 Afghan Sikh since the onset of this crisis under the program “My Family, My responsibility” added Sahney, who has been sponsoring lives and livelihoods, House rent, Medical insurances and Skilling of Afghan Sikhs and Hindu refugees brought to India during last two years.
