Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday called up Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav asking the Uttar Pradesh Government to ensure security of the Sikh community in the wake of violent clashes in Saharanpur district in that State.

Badal also assured full support and cooperation to UP’s former Chief Minister to tackle this critical situation. “UP Government must ensure security of the Sikh community living in every corner of the State,” said Badal. 

Yadav also assured the Chief Minister that the UP Government was fully committed to ensure the well being of every single person living in the State, adding that every effort was being made to maintain peace and amity in the State.

During the telephonic conversation, Badal told Yadav that the Sikh community living in Uttar Pradesh has contributed tremendously to the development of the State in general and that of Saharanpur district in particular.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Sikhs from Saharanpur led by Gurpreet Singh Bagga called on Badal at his residence on Wednesday. The delegation gave detailed information to Badal about the situation in Saharanpur district and sought his personal intervention for safeguarding the interest of Sikhs in that State.

They also urged the Chief Minister to impress upon the UP Government for cancellation of “false cases” against the members of Sikh community in Saharanpur.

Chief Minister appealed to the people, especially the Sikh community in Saharanpur to maintain peace, amity and communal harmony at all cost in this hour of crisis, “as preached by our great gurus, seers and prophets”.

He also appealed to the people to exercise restraint in these circumstances by displaying the ethos of religious tolerance, unity and brotherhood.