Akal Takht flays attack, urges Afghan govt to ensure safety of Sikhs
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 25
Akal Takht and the SGPC have condemned the terror attack on a gurdwara in Kabul and urged the Central government to initiate steps for the security of Sikh families in Afghanistan.
SAD, AAP seek PM intervention
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday condemned the barbaric attack on a gurdwara in Kabul, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the issue of safety of the Sikh community withAfghanistan President Ashraf Ghani urgently
The Aam Aadmi Party too condemned the terrorist attack. Party state unit president and parliamentarian Bhagwant Mann has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s immediate intervention in the matter and a solution to address the issue diplomatically to save precious lives
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Though the Afghan forces gunned down the attackers, the hours-long siege left 25 persons dead. Officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh said such a cowardly attack, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, was reflective of despicable intentions of the attackers.
“This incident has shaken the global Sikh community. Reports emerged that Sikh families living there usually gathered to offer prayers in the morning. The attackers killed the innocent people, including women and children, who used to live in a portion of the shrine. I urge the Indian government to coordinate with the Afghan government so that the security of Sikh community be ensured”, he said. Endorsing it, SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal said it was a time for the Afghani Sikhs to show unity and approach their government for their security.
Manjit Singh GK, president of JAGO party (Jathedar Santokh Singh), and former DSGMC president, called spoke to Tahir Qadiry, charge d’affaires and acting envoy of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to India today.
“Qadiry said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had been personally monitoring the situation. The area has been completely sanitised by the Afghan security forces and all efforts are being made to give immediate treatment to the injured and detailed investigation is still underway”.
Manjit Singh also requested the Afghan envoy to shift the injured on priority basis to India for better healthcare as the Government of India had expressed its interest to extend all possible assistance to the affected families of the Hindu and Sikh communities of Afghanistan.
SAD (Delhi) president Paramjit Singh Sarna termed it as an attack on humanity not on a community.
