News Analysis India

Tag: Manjinder Singh Sirsa

  • ‘India is your home’: PM Narendra Modi meets Afghan Sikh-Hindu delegation

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A delegation of Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence here on Saturday and thanked him for bringing about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as well as standing up for them in times of distress.

    Welcoming the delegation, Prime Minister Modi said they are not guests, but that India is their home. The meeting comes a day after Prime Minister Modi hosted a number of prominent Sikhs at his residence, and a day before the Punjab Assembly polls.

    Prime Minister Modi talked about the immense difficulties faced by the Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan and the help provided by the government to bring them to India safely, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said.

    Earlier today, had the opportunity to interact with Hindu and Sikh refugees from Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/qhshHb4E7o
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 19, 2022
    In this light, he also talked about the significance of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and its benefits for the community, the statement said. Prime Minister Modi assured them of continuous support in the future as well to resolve all issues and address the difficulties faced by them.

    The prime minister also talked about the significance of the tradition of honouring the Guru Granth Sahib, in light of which special arrangements were made to bring back ‘Swaroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan.

    Modi also talked about the immense love he has received from Afghans over the years and fondly recalled his visit to Kabul, according to the statement.

    BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who was present on the occasion, thanked the prime minister for sending help from India for bringing back members of the community safely, and said that when no one stood with them, the prime minister ensured constant support and timely help.

    Other members of the delegation also thanked the Prime Minister for standing up for them in times of distress, the statement said They said that they had tears in their eyes when they heard him talking about making special arrangements to bring back ‘Swaroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan to India with proper reverence, according to the statement.

    The delegation members also thanked him for bringing about the CAA, which will be of immense help for members of their community, the statement said.

    Praising Modi, the delegation members said he is not just the prime minister of India, but the “prime minister of the world” as he understands the difficulties faced especially by Hindus and Sikhs across the world and makes all out efforts to provide immediate help in all such cases.

    Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Union Minister of State Meenakashi Lekhi were also present on the occasion.

    The delegation members presented the PM with traditional Afghani attire and a headgear, which he wore and remarked that former Afghan President Hamid Karzai would be very happy to see him in that attire.

    A large number of Afghan Hindus and Sikhs have been living in India, and the Indian government recently evacuated many of them following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The Modi government has often asserted its commitment to the minorities of Afghanistan who have faced religious persecution, especially from the Taliban.

    The CAA, which facilitates granting of Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019 and the Presidential nod was received the next day.

  • Kabul suicide bombings: Those at Gurdwara Karte Parwan safe, claims DSGMC chief

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Members of minority communities who have taken refuge in Kabul’s Karte Parwan gurudwara are “safe”, DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa claimed on Thursday following two suicide bombings outside the airport there.

    Many Hindus and Sikhs took refuge at the Karte Parwan gurdwara after Afghanistan fell into the hands of the Taliban, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief had said on Monday.

    “All the minorities who have taken refuge in Gurdwara Karte Parwan are safe #Kabulairport #KabulBlast,” Sirsa tweeted.

    Two suicide bombers and gunmen targeted crowds massing near the Kabul airport on Thursday, killing at least 13 people, according to reports.

    Sirsa, who had a telephonic conversation with the president of the Kabul Gurudwara Committee on Thursday, said he has been apprised about the situation.

    “I just had a phone call conversation with S Gurnam Singh, president of Kabul Gurdwara committee who apprised me that today’s #Kabulairport explosion has happened at exactly same place where they were standing yesterday. We thank almighty that such thing didn’t happen yesterday,” he said in another tweet.

    The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities including Kabul in the backdrop of the withdrawal of the US forces.

    Meanwhile, India on Thursday strongly condemned the bombings and said the attacks reinforced the need for the world to stand unitedly against terrorism and those providing sanctuaries to terrorists.

    “Today’s attacks reinforce the need for the world to stand unitedly against terrorism and all those who provide sanctuaries to terrorists,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a late night statement.

    It extended condolences to families of the victims of the attacks.

    “India strongly condemns the bomb blasts in Kabul today. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this terrorist attack,” the MEA said in a statement.

    “Our thoughts and prayers also go out to the injured,” it said.

    The explosions took place amid a scramble by various countries to evacuate their citizens and Afghan partners from Kabul before the August 31 deadline for the withdrawal of American troops.

    Thousands of Afghans were crowding around the Kabul airport for over a week, in a desperate attempt to flee the country fearing the Taliban’s brutality.

  • DSGMC polls on August 22, results out by month-end

    Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH:  The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) election, which was postponed due to the second wave of the Covid pandemic, will be held on August 22. 

    The results will be by August 31. DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa tweeted the schedule following the Delhi Government’s submission in the high court confiming the dates.

    Jagdeep Singh Kahlon, DSGMC legal Advisor, said that the Shiromani Akali Dal had moved a petition in the Delhi High Court demanding early elections for the DSGMC. During the hearing, Kahlon said,  the Delhi Government informed the judges about the  dates.

    Earlier, the election was scheduled for April 25, but were postponed due to the second wave of the pandemic. The Committee, which has 46 seats, is currently controlled by the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). 

  • Those supporting farmer protests being vilified: Sukhbir Badal on case against Manjinder Sirsa

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday condemned the registration of a case against party leader and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

    Sirsa was booked by the Delhi Police on Thursday for alleged misappropriation of funds during his tenure as the secretary-general of the DSGMC.

    Badal alleged that the FIR was lodged against Sirsa as he was providing langar service and other humanitarian aid to the farmers’ agitation at the Delhi borders.

    The Akali Dal leader accused the Centre of resorting to arm-twisting tactics to “intimidate” all those who were supporting the farmers’ agitation.

    He alleged that the Centre had struck at the DSGMC because it was at the forefront in providing aid to the farm movement.

    “The DSGMC has been providing langar to farmers from the very first day they arrived at the Singhu border and continues to do so even today,” Badal said in a statement.

    He underscored that the DSGMC was the same body that had won universal praise during the coronavirus lockdown for the service it rendered to humanity, as well as during the time of natural disasters.

    “Now, the same body is being vilified,” he said.

    “The DSGMC will not be affected by such cowardly acts and will not step back from assisting peacefully-agitating farmer brethren.”

    Badal said it was “strange” that a case had been registered against Sirsa and others with regard to a complaint that had been filed against the then DSGMC president, Manjit Singh G K, in 2018.

    Sirsa’s name has been included now even though he was not named in the original complaint, while that of G K has been excluded, Badal said.

    “This shows how the police and other investigating agencies are being misused by the BJP against its opponents.” 

  • Farmers protests: SAD leader Sirsa claims UP Police arrests him; Pilibit SP denies charge

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) national spokesperson Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday claimed he was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police in Pilibhit district of the state.

    However, Superintendent of Police, Pilibhit, Jai Prakash denied that Sirsa was arrested.

    Sirsa told PTI over the phone that he was in Pilibhit to support farmers who were allegedly booked by the local police to stop them from joining a tractor rally in Delhi.

    “Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested me at Bilaspur, Pilibhit. My offence – I have been raising voice for farmers’ rights and even Supreme Court also recognises the farmers’ right to protest. Is that a criminal offence; I want to ask @Uppolice,” he tweeted.

    “He was not arrested or detained. He was told that he was trying to visit a restricted area and was returned from there,” Prakash told PTI.

    Sirsa, who is also the chairman of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, claimed that he was arrested and taken to Bareli.