New Delhi: During the ongoing dharna against the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Population Register, Sikh leaders have declared unstinted support to the Muslims and other communities who are fighting against new government law.
A group of Sikh leaders from Punjab came to Shaheen Bagh where women have been on sit-in protest for the last over 35 days. They expressed solidarity with the protestors and said that Shaheen Bagh has jolted the whole nation into action.
They said that the time has come for segments of society to come together “to destroy the fascists.” They also said that it was time ensure the failure of the schemes hatched by such elements. Plus, they stressed that the change doesn’t only concern Muslims but all minorities and weaker sections. Staying true to Sikh traditions, these leaders also offered langar (food) to those at the South Delhi neighborhood.
Speaking to the UNI Urdu service, when asked about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Punjab’s former Education Minister Sardar Sewa Singh mentioned, “This legislation which the government has brought was divisive. The legislation does not seek to promote the unity and territorial integrity.” To him such initiatives have dealt a blow to national harmony.
He also added that the CAA is unjust against Muslims.
“We are taking a delegation from Punjab to the office of the Shiromani Akali Dal and we want to let our Muslim brothers know that not only those of India, but the whole world’s Sikh community stands with them,” Singh exclaimed.
Belonging to a minority group, he deplored the discriminatory nature of the law. Hence, he added, the Sikh presence at Shaheen Bagh to voice opposition.
In response to another question where he was asked why Sikhs are worried about this bill, Sewa Singh considered government’s current campaign as a means to divide minorities. “With some people being arrested and some being released, I want to tell this government to not to plot to divide as we are also of this country. This law is nothing but an attempt at fragmenting the nation. “We will not let them divide the country,” he asserted.
Sardar Karnel Singh Peer Mohammed, General Secretary of the Akali Dal Punjab, said that the government’s attempts to derail the protests are outright criminal. He lambasted saying, “Through such hooliganism, they want to divide votes by pitting Hindus against Muslims.”
He also said that the new law is a result of the centre’s “dirty ideology”.
He asked Amit Shah and Modi to steer clear of such lawmaking and gravitate more towards humanity. “This is everyone’s country – not only the Sikhs’, the Muslims’, Hindus’, nor only the Christians but everyone’s! First comes humanity and then our religion,” the secretary emphasized.
Much like the partition of the country resulted in 10 lakh deaths, a civil war could also occur because of the senseless laws, he said.
“They should stop harbouring the intentions of Adolf Hitler,” he warned.