Amarinder condemns attack

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh strongly condemned the attack on a religious gathering in a gurdwara in Kabul in which at least 25 people were killed. The CM described the attack as extremely “tragic and unfortunate”.

“Horrific news coming from Kabul where a barbaric terror attack happened in the Gurudwara Guru Har Rai. It’s extremely tragic and unfortunate. Request (Afghanistan) President @Ashraf Ghani Ji to find out the perpetrators and look after our people (sic),” the CM tweeted.

SUKHBIR: SIKHS BEING PERSECUTED

CHANDIGARH : Condemning the barbaric attack on Gurdwara

Har Rai in Kabul, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the issue of Sikh community’s safety with the Afghanistan President urgently.

In a statement issued here, the SAD chief said as per the initial reports, 11 persons had been killed and over 150 Sikhs were holed up in the gurdwara complex. “These people need to be rescued and quick action should to be taken against those responsible for this cowardly and ghastly act,” he said.

Sukhbir added that it was unfortunate that Sikhs in Afghanistan had been victims of forced marriages, conversions and killings for more than two decades now, but no concrete steps had been taken to ensure their safety. He said Sikhs were being systematically decimated in Afghanistan due to which thousands had fled the country to seek refuge in India.

HARDEEP PURI SLAMS ATTACK

NEW DELHI: Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday condemned the attack on a gurdwara in Afghanistan. The minister said these killings are a grim reminder of the atrocities that continue to be inflicted upon religious minorities in some countries.

In a tweet, Puri said he spoke to external affairs minister S Jaishankar who assured him that necessary steps are being taken to extend a helping hand.

“Members of Sikh-Hindu Association of Afghanistan in West Delhi conveyed their deep sense of anguish at the terror attack on a 400 yr old Gurudwara Sahib (sic),” Puri tweeted.