JALANDHAR: Canada-based Sikh bodies, including World Sikh Organization and
gurdwara committees, have taken up the cause of Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan after a recent blast killed 19 persons, most of them Sikhs. They are urging the Canadian government to recognize Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan as vulnerable minorities and develop an appropriate plan to directly evacuate them.
They have also urged people to ask MPs of their areas to join the effort. “Canadian Sikh gurdwaras and organizations from across the country have joined together to call on the Canadian government to help save Afghanistan's minority Sikh and Hindu communities,” said World Sikh Organization in a recent statement.
Alberta MLA Manmeet Singh Bhullar's family, who championed the cause of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus before his death in a road accident in November 2015, has also joined the campaign.
The Sikh bodies have a two-pronged campaign. One aspect is urging the Canadian government to recognize Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan as vulnerable minorities and develop a plan of action to evacuate them without them having to go to a third country. The second aspect is to fast-track files of 65 Afghan Sikh and Hindu refugee families who have been privately sponsored and whose files are in process.
On July 8, a joint meeting of gurdwaras and Sikh bodies of Vancouver and British Columbia
Lower Mainland was held to call on the Canadian government to help save Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan. They also announced that members of the Sikh community would engage with the government and elected officials to develop a path forward, ensure awareness of the situation and to encourage the Canadian government to act swiftly.
Commenting on the issue, WSO President Mukhbir Singh said, "the situation for Afghanistan's Hindus and Sikhs continues to deteriorate. Gurdwaras and Sikh societies from across Canada are united on this matter. Urgent action is needed to save these vulnerable minorities before it is too late. Before his passing in November 2015, Manmeet Singh Bhullar championed this issue and brought it to the attention of the Canadian government. We need the government of Canada to urgently act to process refugee applications of these vulnerable minorities on an expedited basis and to create a programme that will allow Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan to be directly evacuated to Canada. We fear that delay may result in further tragedy and loss of life."
Earlier, Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (Amritsar) Canada East president Sukhminder Singh Hansra wrote to Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to welcome 30 Sikh families from Afghanistan the way they welcomed thousands of Syrian refugees.
