CHANDIGARH: Expressing deep concern over the declining number of Sikhs in Afghanistan due to the outbreak of civil war, Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) President and Rajya Sabha Member, S. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has written a letter to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
In the letter, S. Dhindsa has urged the Ministry to ensure the safety of minority Sikhs and Gurdwaras in Afghanistan. He has also demanded the safe rehabilitation of these Sikhs in India.
S. Dhindsa said that he has also contacted Union External Affairs Minister, Dr. S.Jaishankar to assured the safety of Sikhs in Afghanistan and said that he is closely monitoring the latest situation in Afghanistan and is making every possible effort to protect the minority Sikhs residing there.
S. Dhindsa further informed that he wrote a letter to the Afghan Embassy in India seeking permission to hold talks with the Sikhs so that they could know the latest situation of the Sikhs in Afghanistan.
S. Dhindsa said that it is unfortunate that where the Sikh population in Afghanistan was around 5 lakhs in the '70s, which was 4.6 per cent of the total population, today it is reduced to only 250 Sikh families due to the civil war.
He said that according to the latest situation, the Taliban is trying to take over in Afghanistan. This has created an atmosphere of fear among the minorities living in the country.
S. Dhindsa said Sikhs are being killed in bomb blasts and abducted because of the cruel attitude of the Taliban towards minorities.
Not only this, Sikhs are being tortured and forcibly converted. Shrines are also being targeted. In such a situation, the entire Sikh population is living under the shadow of fear, said Sh. Dhindsa.
He said that although the minority Sikhs who are targeted by the extremist groups had migrated to many countries including India now the remaining Sikhs want to return to India.
Therefore, the government should make special arrangements for the safety of these Sikhs and also make arrangements for their immediate rehabilitation in India, said Sh. Dhindsa.