Sikh community world over seethes in anger over the atrocities meted out on community members in Pakistan.
Sikh community world over seethes in anger over the atrocities meted out on community members in Pakistan. The rumblings can be heard even in Ahmedabad, where Sikh community members living in the city share their anguish and grief with the rest of the country.
With the imposition of jazia, a tax imposed on non-Muslims inhabiting in a Muslim state in return for full protection, the Sikh community in Pakistan is being persecuted constantly. The community members have now sought refuge in ‘Punjasahib Gurdwara’ fearing Taliban backlash.
Several members, who talked to DNA, are furious over the alleged persecution of their community by the Taliban in tribal areas of Pakistan. They say that Sikhs in Pakistan have to live under constant fear and pressure without any sense of safety and security.
Says Tarlochan Singh Pahwa, secretary of Gurdwara Govind Dham at Thalthej: “I would first like to make it very clear that we are not against the Muslim community since the basic foundation of our Darbaarsaab was laid by none other than a Muslim person. We are only against those people who do not tolerate other religions. They may belong to any religion whatsoever. Pakistani comprises people who are Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and of various other religions and faiths. It is the moral duty of the Pakistani government to look after the safety and well being of each and every citizen irrespective of their religious affiliations. The UN or other concerned international body should intervene and resolve this issue on an urgent basis.”
Voicing his angst, third year student of Vivekananda Commerce College, Raminder Singh Manmohan Singh Bagga, said, “The Sikh community residing in Pakistan is at risk. However, we have full faith on the Pakistan government to take strict action against the Taliban and provide full security to the Sikh community.”
Pritamsingh Bhatiya, president of the oldest Gurdwara of Gujarat, Shri Gurusingh Sabha Gurdwara, says, “There is nothing much that we can do from here. The Pakistani government has always attacked non-Muslims residing there, which is really pathetic since all these people have made Pakistan their home since ages. They too should be given equal rights like others by now.”
Stating that the Pakistani government is like a puppet without much power, Bhatiya further said that it is also frightened of the repercussions that will follow if they do not obey the Taliban diktat. “I think the non-Muslims are not safe in Pakistan and should return to their own country. I had myself returned to India from Pakistan in 1947 at the age of 10, and saw Sikhs being slain in front of my eyes. I was lucky to have survived the ordeal then, but am not sure how many Sikhs will, today, in the given circumstances. With its own shaky political scenario Pakistan is itself struggling to survive. I think the Sikhs there should return to India for their own safety’s sake,” he added.
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