Afghan Sikh group arrives in India amid tears

KABUL.

The group including four children, one minor girl, three women and three men were warmly received amid tears of joy at Delhi Airport’s lounge. 

Around 700 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus have registered with the Indian mission in Kabul seeking early repatriation to India.

The group also includes 60 years old Delhi-based Sikh Nidan Singh, who had been kidnapped by Taliban militants but later rescued by security forces. Lauding India’s secular credentials, Nidan said, “No one asked my religion here”.

Singh was kidnapped from Gurdwara Tala Sahib, Chamkani in Afghanistan. Singh and his family of 6–wife, 2 sons and 3 daughters — moved to India in 1992 due to civil unrest in Afghanistan and since staying in New Delhi as refugees.

Ten of the 11 Afghan Sikhs are family members of Sikhs killed in Kabul Gurudwara terror attack on March 25, in which over 25 Afghan Sikhs were killed.

The Afghan Sikhs are Nidan Singh, Makand Lal, Sunmeet Kour, Balender Singh, Charan Kour Singh, Balwan Kour Singh, Gorjeet Singh, Malmeet Kaur, Mandeep Singh, Ponam Kaur and Parwin Singh.

Hopeful to get Indian citizenship soon, Charan Singh, the brother in law of Nidan Singh who is in Delhi told WION, “I am hopeful on citizenship front.”

The Indian government has announced giving Afghan Hindus and Sikhs visas and examine Indian citizenship requests by them.

While no details have been given on the rules, India could give citizenship to these Afghan minorities under the citizenship Amendment Law passed last year in the parliament. 

nh/ma

Views: 9