Taliban restricts ferrying of Sikh scriptures out of Afghanistan; SGPC condemns move : The Tribune India

Taliban restricts ferrying of Sikh scriptures out of Afghanistan; SGPC condemns move

It is learnt that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan had restricted the departure of the holy books out of Afghanistan for want of ‘official clearance’ from the Ministry of Information and Culture

Taliban restricts ferrying of Sikh scriptures out of Afghanistan; SGPC condemns move

Photo for representation



Tribune News Service

GS Paul

Amritsar, September 14

The Taliban-led Afghanistan government has denied ferrying of four copies of Sikh scriptures (two Sri Guru Granth Sahib and two Sanchi Sahib) that were to accompany a group of 60 Afghan Sikhs, supposed to land in New Delhi on September 11.   

It is learnt that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan had restricted the departure of the holy books out of Afghanistan for want of “official clearance” from the Ministry of Information and Culture.

The SGPC has strongly condemned the Taliban government for this.

Terming it a direct interference in the religious affairs of Sikhs, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami sought intervention of the Prime Minister and Ministry of External Affairs.

Indian World Forum, in coordination with the community members in Kabul, has been following this up with Afghan officials, but to no avail.

Puneet Singh Chandhok, president of Indian World Forum, an organisation coordinating the evacuation efforts of stranded Afghan minorities with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Air Force and the SGPC, said, “Around 60 Afghan Sikhs were scheduled to land in New Delhi on September 11, but they could not. The reason is that the Afghan culture ministry refused to facilitate the departure of the religious scriptures out of Afghanistan for reasons best known to them.”

As the issue concerned the protocol department, the matter was conveyed to them, but the response is awaited, he said.

“The Afghan foreign ministry was adamant that unless an official confirmation letter from the Afghan Culture and Information Ministry was obtained, the scriptures could not be allowed to be taken out of Afghanistan,” said Chandhok.

Meanwhile, Jago Party chief Manjit Singh GK said the Afghan Sikhs deferred their evacuation programme till the authorities allowed them to carry the scriptures with them.

“We have sought immediate intervention of the Centre through the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Mission in Kabul,” he said, appreciating the Indian government for being liberal in issuing e-visas to the minorities stranded in Afghanistan.

Tribune Shorts


Top News

Differences between government and judiciary doesn’t mean confrontation: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju

Differences between government and judiciary doesn't mean confrontation: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju

The minister inaugurates Chief Judicial Magistrate court, Ma...

Never asked for foreign intervention, BJP leaders lied in Parliament to divert Adani issue: Rahul Gandhi addresses press after disqualification from LS

Disqualified from Lok Sabha as PM Modi scared of my next speech on Adani issue: Rahul Gandhi

'I am Rahul Gandhi, not Rahul Savarkar,' he said when asked ...

Rahul’s disqualification not linked to Adani episode, stay not sought to encash issue in Karnataka polls: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification not linked to Adani episode: BJP

Former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says stay on convi...


Cities

View All