New Delhi, India (August 13, 2014): Members from Punjab reportedly voiced anguish in Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) on August 12 over repeated attacks on Sikhs in United States and Pakistan and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the matter with them to ensure their safety and security. Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Balwinder Singh Bhunder (SAD-Badal) said Sikh minorities in US and Pakistan were being assaulted and many of them have been murdered due to hate crimes. The issue was also joined by Avtar Singh Karimpuri of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Balwinder Singh Bhundar demanded that the Indian Prime Minister should take up the matter with the two countries and ensure they get protection. He also raised the issue of citizenship not granted to Afghan Sikhs coming to India. Bhunder said Sikhs were a brave community and had taken part in many freedom struggles and sacrificed their lives and their protection needs to be ensured. “These hate crimes should stop,” he said.
However, none of the Punjab MPs showed any concern over RSS chief’s offensive statements terming Sikhs as a part of Hindus. Mohan Bhagwant, head of Hindu supremacist outfit Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), recently declared that RSS does not recognize Sikh religion as a distinct and separate religion and treat it as a part of Hinduism.
The statement has been condemned by various Sikh quarters, including Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar.