Embrace Islam or leave Valley, Sikhs threatened
M Saleem Pandit,
Badal warns of reaction if Sikhs attacked
TNN, Aug 21, 2010, 03.23am IST
SANGRUR/SRINAGAR: Even as K Skandan, joint secretary in the home ministry, arrived in Srinagar following reports of threats to the Sikhs in the Valley, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday warned of "strong reaction" in case any harm came to the community in the Valley.
Badal was reacting to reports about anonymous letters in the Valley asking Sikhs to either embrace Islam and join protests against the Indian government or leave the Valley. The Punjab CM blamed Congress "for creating an atmosphere of insecurity for Sikhs" and asked NDA MPs to put pressure "and even stall parliament" on the latest threat.
Badal was speaking at a meeting in Longowal held to observe the 25th death anniversary of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, who was gunned down by militants for signing the controversial Rajiv-Longowal accord during militancy days. Former BJP president Rajnath Singh, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav were also present.
Read more: Badal warns of reaction if Sikhs attacked - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Badal-warns-of-reaction-if-Sikhs-attacked/articleshow/6384851.cms#ixzz0xQtbeJ2e
Read more: Embrace Islam or leave Valley, Sikhs threatened - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Embrace-Islam-or-leave-Valley-Sikhs-threatened/articleshow/6346853.cms#ixzz10Qn9wM8S
SRINAGAR: Sikhs in the Kashmir Valley have received anonymous letters from Islamic militants asking them to either embrace Islam and join the protests against civilian killings or pack up and leave the Valley. The 60,000-strong Sikh community is the single largest minority group in the Valley.
An organisation of Kashmiri Sikhs said that several community members have received these letters. "Community members have received unsigned letters at various places," said All Party Sikh Coordination Committee (ASCC) coordinator Jagmohan Singh Raina. He said the community has decided to stay put and fight these "evil designs" at a meeting in Srinagar on Thursday.
Raina quoted a letter as saying: "When you are enjoying the joys here, why can't you share the grief and sorrow of Kashmiris as well? We know you are afraid of bullets... Hold protests inside gurdwaras or leave Kashmir." He added, "Some letters have asked Sikhs to embrace Islam."
Raina urged both factions of the Hurriyat, JKLF and PoK-based United Jihad Council to take serious note of the threats to maintain amity and brotherhood in the Valley.
Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has reassured the Sikhs saying they shouldn't feel threatened and should ignore the "fake letters". He assured the community that nobody would force them to join the protests.
Earlier, Geelani has made an emotional appeal against forcing minorities to join the protests and said harming them would be like "inflicting a wound on his (Geelani's) body".
The state unit of Akali Dal (Badal) president Ajeet Singh Mastana described the threats as acts by anti-social elements. "The threats can't break us and reduce our love for our motherland," he said.
Read more: Embrace Islam or leave Valley, Sikhs threatened - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Embrace-Islam-or-leave-Valley-Sikhs-threatened/articleshow/6346853.cms#ixzz10QnGtbdu
Embrace Islam or leave Valley, Sikhs threatened
M Saleem Pandit,
TNN, Aug 20, 2010, 12.23am ISTRead more: Embrace Islam or leave Valley, Sikhs threatened - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Embrace-Islam-or-leave-Valley-Sikhs-threatened/articleshow/6346853.cms#ixzz10Qn9wM8S
SRINAGAR: Sikhs in the Kashmir Valley have received anonymous letters from Islamic militants asking them to either embrace Islam and join the protests against civilian killings or pack up and leave the Valley. The 60,000-strong Sikh community is the single largest minority group in the Valley.
An organisation of Kashmiri Sikhs said that several community members have received these letters. "Community members have received unsigned letters at various places," said All Party Sikh Coordination Committee (ASCC) coordinator Jagmohan Singh Raina. He said the community has decided to stay put and fight these "evil designs" at a meeting in Srinagar on Thursday.
Raina quoted a letter as saying: "When you are enjoying the joys here, why can't you share the grief and sorrow of Kashmiris as well? We know you are afraid of bullets... Hold protests inside gurdwaras or leave Kashmir." He added, "Some letters have asked Sikhs to embrace Islam."
Raina urged both factions of the Hurriyat, JKLF and PoK-based United Jihad Council to take serious note of the threats to maintain amity and brotherhood in the Valley.
Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has reassured the Sikhs saying they shouldn't feel threatened and should ignore the "fake letters". He assured the community that nobody would force them to join the protests.
Earlier, Geelani has made an emotional appeal against forcing minorities to join the protests and said harming them would be like "inflicting a wound on his (Geelani's) body".
The state unit of Akali Dal (Badal) president Ajeet Singh Mastana described the threats as acts by anti-social elements. "The threats can't break us and reduce our love for our motherland," he said.
Read more: Embrace Islam or leave Valley, Sikhs threatened - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Embrace-Islam-or-leave-Valley-Sikhs-threatened/articleshow/6346853.cms#ixzz10QnGtbdu
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