July 12, 2018 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau
Mississauga, Ontario: The Ontario Gurdwaras Committee (OGC) and the Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwaras Council (OSGC) hosted a joint press conference on July 9 to discuss and highlight the current situation of Sikhs in Afghanistan and to determine the next steps in providing help and aid to those affected.
Representatives from the British Columbia Sikh Gurdwara Council, Baljinder Singh Bhullar, father of the late MLA Manmeet Singh Bhullar, Sharanjeet Kaur from the World Sikh Organization of Canada and Jatinder Singh from Khalsa Aid Canada also joined the press conference.
Ontario Sikh Gurdwaras Urge Canadian Government to Take Effective Steps to Address Plight of Afghan Sikhs
The recent deadly attack that targeted a Sikh delegation in Afghanistan has left the Canadian Sikh community devastated and it has also highlighted the inaction on the private sponsorships of 65 Afghan Sikh and Hindu families that have not yet been processed.
The Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities are in a crisis situation with a lack of safety and security for their lives. The Canadian Sikh community expects more from our government and urges the government to:
1. Recognize Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan as vulnerable minorities and develop an appropriate plan of action with our international allies to directly evacuate them from their current situation without requiring them to first go to a third country.
2. Fast track and fully complete the files of the 65 Afghan Sikh & Hindu refugee families who have been privately sponsored and whose files are under process.
Over the coming days, members from the Sikh Community will be engaging with the government and elected officials to develop and path forward for those impacted by the violence in Afghanistan.
To ensure awareness of the situation and to encourage our government to act swiftly, Canadians are encouraged to reach out to their elected officials to make their concerns and expectations known.
(1) Save Our WhatsApp Number 0091-855-606-7689 to your phone contacts; and
(2) Send us Your Name via WhatsApp. Click Here to Send WhatsApp Message Now.
Related Topics: Ontario Gurdwaras Committee, Sikh in Ontario, Sikhs in Afghanistan