CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has urged External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to take up the issue of alleged ‘forced conversion’ of Sikhs to Islam in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province with Pakistani authorities.
Expressing his concern over the reports of the Sikh community in Hangu district of KP province having complained of such conversions, Captain Singh said that the Indian Government was duty-bound to ensure that Sikhs in any part of the world were not victimised or coerced in any manner.
The CM also said that it was a serious issue especially considering that the forced conversions were allegedly being spearheaded by a Government official there.
He further said, “We are duty-bound to protect the identity of Sikhs, wherever they may be living, ” adding that it is now the responsibility of the Indian authorities to intervene in the matter and ensure that the said coercion is brought to an end.
Capt Singh said the Ministry of External Affairs should pursue the matter at the highest levels in Islamabad so that this “religious torture” was brought to an immediate end.
“Religious freedom is the right of every human being and should be upheld by all countries in the larger interest of humanity”, the CM said. Captain Singh also said Sushma Swaraj’s intervention in the matter would help in protecting this basic right of the substantial sikh community living in Pakistan. (agencies)
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