Afghan Sikhs trapped in Jalalabad, Ghazni and Kabul have raised a plea requesting Sikh leaders and the Government of India to solve their Visa problem and help them reunite with their family. In the videos posted on social media platforms, the Sikhs have stated that they are unable to have their Visas issued and urged the Government of India for their evacuation.
Manjinder Singh Sirsa, national spokesman of the Shiromani Akali Dal, appealed to Prime Minister Modi on behalf of Afghan Sikhs and said that India is their only hope.
Received this plea for help from the minorities living in Jalalabad, Ghazni and Kabul. Their voice and folded hands reflect their fear and concerns for their safety. India is their only hope and harbour @NarendraModi Ji@AmitShah Ji@DrSJaishankar Ji @ANI @republic pic.twitter.com/L7hIP3uz3a
— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) October 29, 2021
The Sikh in the video said, “We request to the leaders and Government of India that some family members are in Delhi while some are here. You have done a lot for us before. We are again requesting you again to please do something about the visa problem for these people so that they can join their families.”
Another video of the Afghan Sikhs’ request of urgent help went viral on social media.
Worried over safety the Sikhs living in #Jalalabad “with folded hands” urging #GOI to evacuate them So that they can meet their families living in India.@vikramsahney@PSCINDIAN @mssirsa @ManjitGK also echoed that their lives are in grave danger.
— Ravinder Singh Robin ਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ رویندرسنگھ روبن (@rsrobin1) October 29, 2021
kind attn:-@PMOIndia @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/RVHHcmTSA6
Here it said, “We are living in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Our children are in India. Our Visa is not getting issued. We request the Sikh leaders and Government of India to issue Visas and bring us to Delhi. Our Children and elders are alone in Delhi.”
The Afghan Sikhs are part of the religious minority in Afghanistan. After the Taliban takeover, they have been living under constant fear of persecution and death. According to reports, the Sikhs under the Taliban regime are left with only two options for their survival, that is, either get converted to Sunni Islam or leave Afghanistan. The International Forum for Rights And Security (IFFRAS) reported that because the Sikh community do not belong to the mainstream Sunni Islam, they would be either forcefully converted to Sunni Islam or be killed by the Taliban.
Earlier in August, number of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus were rescued by the India government after Taliban took control of Afghanistan.
