New Delhi: The Taliban action against Pakistan’s Sikh community is fast becoming an election issue in India, giving the BJP yet another opportunity to target Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
On Sunday, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Prime Minister for failing to address the plight of the community in the neighbouring country. I want to ask the PM what he has done. Aren't you a Sikh? Why don't you do something? It is the need of the hour It is your chance to pay your dues. Say something, do something. Take up the issue with Pakistan,” he said.
BJP's prime minister-in-waiting, L K Advani, also attacked the PM. "If Sikhs are not being treated in Pakistan well, then Government should take up this issue. This government is not doing anything," he said.
The comments come in the backdrop of incidents of Sikhs being attacked in Pakistan and asked to pay "protection money".
Reports said that Sikhs are being asked to pay Jaziya (protection tax imposed on non-Muslims under Shariah law) and houses of 11 Sikh families were destroyed after they failed to pay Rs 5 cr each when the deadline expired on April 29.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reacted to the statements made by Modi and India has requested Pakistan to take strong measures to stop atrocities unleashed against a "handful of
Sikhs who have remained".
"Recently, you have heard the atrocities being unleashed on the handful of Sikhs who have remained in Pakistan. Indian Government has requested Pakistan to initiate strong measures to stop such atrocities," Singh said.
The Prime Minister was addressing an election rally in west Delhi's Hari Nagar, where a sizeable population of Sikhs reside, wooing voters to exercise their franchise in favour of Congress.
Referring to the lack of peace and stability in India's neighbourhood comprising Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Singh said India can be affected by these factors and only Congress has the experience to deal with such challenges.
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