Hard on the heels of attack on Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan, a Sikh youth Ravinder Singh was killed in Pak’s Peshawar on Sunday — an unpleasant incident which was condemned by the political leaders, cutting across party lines in Punjab.
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh besides the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal, SAD MP and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, among others talked tough on the issue.
Expressing anguish, Capt Amarinder urged Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to ensure “strict punishment” to the perpetrators besides a thorough investigation into the matter.
“Shocked and anguished over killing of Sikh youth Ravinder Singh in #Pakistan, coming on heels of #NankanaSahibAttack. @ImranKhanPTI govt must ensure a thorough investigation and strict punishment for the culprits. This is the time to act on what you preach (sic),” tweeted Capt Amarinder.
Condemning the brutal killing of the Sikh youth in Peshawar, SAD chief Sukhbir Badal expressed grave concern over the rising incidents of religious persecution of Sikhs and other minorities in Pakistan.
He urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the issue with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to ensure the safety of Sikh brethren in the neighboring country.
“It is condemnable that a day after a mob attacked Gurdwara Janam Asthan at Nankana Sahib, a Sikh youth had been murdered in Peshawar…This shows the extent of religious persecution the Sikhs and other minorities are facing in Pakistan,” said Sukhbir.
He said that rising attacks on religious places as well against Sikhs and other minorities in Pakistan are a direct outcome of the anti-minority policies of Pakistan.
“It is because of these policies that Islamic fundamentalists had become a law unto themselves and are persecuting minorities and indulging in forced conversions,” he added.
Sukhbir, giving details, said that the killing of Islamabad reporter Harmeet Singh’s younger brother in Peshawar by unknown assailants proved that innocent people were being targeted indiscriminately to instill a sense of fear among minorities.
“The victim came from Malaysia for his marriage and became a target of hate crime currently on the rise in Pakistan,” he said adding that the Pak government seemed to be in league with the hardliners in targeting minorities there.
Senior SAD leader and the Union Minister Harsimrat also took to Twitter to urge the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately take up the issue with his Pak counterpart Imran Khan and “ensure safety of Sikh brethren there”.
“A day after mob attacked our holy shrine #GurdwaraNankanaSahib, this brutal murder of Sikh youth in Peshawar shows the extent of persecution minorities face in Pak. I urge PM @narendramodi ji to take up the issue with @ImranKhanPTI & ensure the safety of Sikh brethren there (sic),” tweeted Harsimrat.
While attacking Pak, Harsimrat also lashed out at the opposition, and Capt Amarinder Singh in particular. “Another Sikh has been killed just because his brother, the first Sikh news anchor in Pakistan, raised his voice against persecution of minorities there. How many more Sikhs need to die before you & your @INCIndia stop this double speak? (sic)” tweeted Harsimrat addressing to Punjab Chief Minister.
“How much blood has to be spilled before @RahulGandhi & his coterie come to their senses? After vandalisaton of #GurdwaraNankanaSahib, now a Sikh youth has been shot dead in Peshawar. Killings of minorities in Pak underline the need for #CAA, their hope for safe & dignified life (sic),” said Harsimrat in another tweet.
Notably, a 25-year-old youth, identified as Ravinder Singh, was found murdered in Peshawar. Indian Government has also condemned the Sikh youth’s killing and called upon the Pakistan government to “stop prevaricating and take immediate action” to apprehend the perpetrators.
“India strongly condemns targeted killing of minority Sikh community member in Peshawar (Pakistan) that follows recent despicable vandalism and desecration of Gurdwara Sri Janam Asthan at Nankana Sahib and the unresolved case of abduction, forced conversion and marriage of a Sikh girl,” the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Sunday.
It may be mentioned that an angry group of local residents had pelted stones at the holy Sikh shrine in Pakistan on Friday evening. The group was allegedly led by the family of a boy who had abducted a Sikh girl, Jagjit Kaur, from her home in August last year. India, on Friday, had strongly condemned the vandalism at the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and called upon the Pakistan Government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of the Sikh community in the neighbouring country.