Sikh delegation meets MoS Home
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: A delegation of Sikhs met Union Minister of State for Home, G Kishan Reddy today and apprised him about the alleged forced conversion and marriage of girls from the community in Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation, including Delhi’s BJP leader R P Singh, submitted a memorandum to Reddy who assured them that necessary action will be taken.
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“The delegation submitted a memorandum about the alleged forced conversion and wedding of Sikh girls in Kashmir. “I will discuss the matter with the Union Home Minister, (Amit Shah) about the action that is required to be taken,” said Reddy.
Delhi president of the SAD, Paramjit Singh, told reporters in Srinagar that one of the women, who was restored to her family from her alleged kidnapper amid allegations of forced conversion, was married off to a man from the Sikh community.
“The girl was married to Sukhbir Singh today. They knew each other and there was no coercion or force used (against the girl),” Paramjit Singh told reporters.
Various social and Hindu organisations including Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today demanded enactment of a law to ban forcible conversions in the J&K on the pattern of UP Government.
The demand was made at a joint press conference by the leaders of these organisations which among others was addressed by VHP J&K president Leela Karan Sharma, Parshotam Dadichi, president, Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS), Arun Choudhary president, Arya Pritinidhi Sabha and Gharu Bharti, president Balmiki Sabha said it is quite unfortunate that Sikh girls are being forced to convert to Islam in Kashmir and get married with people who are double than their age or age of their fathers.
These leaders demanded that this practice should be stopped at once and Government should take stern action against the culprits responsible for it who are hell bent to vitiate atmosphere in the UT of J&K.
Leela Karan warned that such incidents of forcible conversion will never be tolerated as in last six months many girls of minority Sikh community have been forced to convert to Islam in Valley.
Others present in the press conference included Abhishek Gupta general secretary, VHP and Nishu Gupta secretary, VHP.
Senior BJP leader and former Deputy CM, Kavinder Gupta today said that forcible interfaith marriages will not be tolerated. Kavinder, strongly condemned alleged forcible interfaith marriages of Sikh girls in the Valley.
While talking to Sikh community members who called on him here, Kavinder said that such unwarranted actions under a well knit conspiracy by some unscrupulous elements in the Valley will not be tolerated.
Chairman National Sikh Front (NSF) Varinderjeet Singh has warned the administration to take quick stern action against those involved in kidnapping and conversion of Sikh girls, failing which the situation may turn into communal clashes, which will not be a good development by any means.
Flanked by S. Kulwant Singh Bhatti, president National Sikh Front and Honey Singh Mehar, district Jammu general secretary, the NSF Chairman at a press conference here, said that the recent cases of abduction and marrying Sikh girls after their forceful conversion, have witnessed widespread anger and resentment among the Sikh community throughout the world.
Sikh leaders in Akhnoor expressed their strong resentment against forcefully conversion of two Sikh girls namely Manmeet and Dhanmeet of Ranawari and Awantipora Srinagar.
At a press conference at Sant Baba Sunder Singh Gurudwara Akhnoor they strongly condemned the act of forcible conversions of Sikh girls and demanded stern action against culprits.
Hindu leader, Raju Chandel today said that Sikh girls should be sent back to their homes soon.
He said that our team is fully in touch with the Sikh and Muslim community leaders and after mediation the Sikh girls will be returned to their families.
He added that Sikh girls will be handed over to their families after mediation in Kashmir Valley.
The workers of Dogra Front and Shiv Sena under the leadership of its president, Ashok Gupta held a protest rally here against the conversion of Sikh girls in Valley.
Ashok Gupta alleged that forceful conversion of an 18-year-old Sikh girl from the Budgam district is totally unfortunate. In another case, a girl has been allegedly abducted from Srinagar after she attended a marriage ceremony.
Gupta voicing concern over the kidnappings, demanded strong action against the culprits as one of the girls was not mentally stable.
The PoJK Sharnarthi Intellectuals Forum has demanded issuance of an ordinance to stop forcible conversions in J&K. In this regard the Forum president, Amrik Singh and its general secretary, Surjit Singh have made an appeal to the Union Minister, Amit Shah. They said promulgation of Ordinance has become inevitable to stop the activities of some agencies hell bent to destabilise economy, fraternity, solidarity and brotherhood.
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