AMBALA: In connection with the alleged cases of ‘kidnapping and forcible conversion’ of two Sikh girls in Srinagar, Kashmir, the Sikh delegation led by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) President Manjinder Singh Sirsa MS voiced out his concern in the valley on the second day as well.
As per information, two Sikh girls had been “forcibly converted to Islam.
One of them, 18 and specially-abled, was married to a 62-year-old man and the second was married to another man.” The Sikh delegation also met Jammu & Kashmir director general of police (DGP), Dilbag Singh, with regards to this situation.
Sirsa tweeted the following after holding the meeting: Met up with Sh Dilbag Singh Ji, DGP, @JmuKmrPolice w.r.t issue of Sikh girls’ forceful conversion.
He assured us Si… https://t.co/OQEnMBmZsK— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) 1624883428000Earlier in the day, MS Sirsa also tweeted about his tele-conversation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in regard to the kidnapping and forcible conversion: Just had a tele-conversation with Home Min @AmitShah Ji w.r.t to the issue of Sikh girls forcibly married & convert… https://t.co/ijNYUMNqzC— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) 1624862108000Following the conversion and marriage of the young girl with an old man, the Sikh community in Srinagar held strong protests on Saturday night demanding the custody of the girl, who was allowed to meet her parents after the administration got involved in the matter.
However, the whereabouts of the second girl is still unknown and the police claim that no case has been filed by the community.
Sources in Srinagar told that the first girl’s custody has been given to the Sikh community.
Following protocol, she is still not with her parents and is being counselled by the community.
MS Sirsa said, “A case has been registered against the accused 62-year-old man who forcibly married the girl and he has been arrested on Saturday night itself.
The community is following up the case and seeking strict action.” Accompanied by Srinagar Sikhs on Monday, MS Mirsa held a press conference in which he said, “The Sikh community, in entirety and at the valley, stands for the brotherhood with the Muslim community but such people should be strongly condemned and boycotted by either side who commit serious crimes like forcible conversion.
The politicians of the valley should stand with the Sikh community and speak out against this crime.
I want to ask why the leaders of the majority here including Abdullah Ji, Muftis, Maulanas and Ghulam Nabi Azad Sahib are silent, who should have come forward by now and taken up the issue of Sikhs in Srinagar as their own.
Whatever happened here is a grave sin.” Raising questions over the judiciary, MS Sirsa said, “The judiciary at the lower level has also given biased judgments and not heard the family of the Sikh girl out.
We have also sought time from the chief justice of the high court to raise the concerns of the Sikhs in J&K.
We trust the judicial system, but some people are taking unfair advantage of the same in the valley.” He reiterated that the Sikh community at large is upholding its demand for strong anti-forcible religious conversions in J&K, as written to lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha by Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh on Sunday.
Talking about this issue, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur said, “The country is free, but it does not allow forcible religious conversion.
The girl, 18, in J&K has been misled and I strongly condemn her conversion.
Sikh faith does not allow conversion to any other religion.
Because of the democratic spirit, we cannot bring back the girl by force, that is why the due procedure is being followed.
The Sikh parents should educate the girls that our faith does not allow religious conversion.
Leniency in educating the youth can lead to such incidents.” “SGPC’s delegation from its J&K Sikh Mission is going to Srinagar to ascertain the entire ground situation on Tuesday morning.
DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa Ji is already in J&K for the last two days and raising this issue.
After taking feedback from the SGPC delegation and Sirsa Ji, further proceedings will be conducted accordingly”, said Bibi Jagir Kaur.
Meanwhile, various leaders voiced their support on Twitter.
Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the J&K Peoples Democratic Party, made a tweet while reacting to the incidents with the Sikh community in Srinagar.
“Disturbed to hear reports about the incident involving two Sikh girls in Kashmir.
Muslims & Sikhs in J&K have co-existed peacefully in the worst of times.
Hope the investigative agencies swiftly get to the bottom of this issue,” She tweeted on Monday.
Disturbed to hear reports about the incident involving two Sikh girls in Kashmir.
Muslims & Sikhs in J&K have co-ex… https://t.co/vfw9DvQ2YH— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) 1624859547000Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also reacted and tweeted on Monday: Any move to drive a wedge between Sikhs & Muslims in Kashmir will cause irreparable harm to J&K.
The two communitie… https://t.co/7VnofdPOK7— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) 1624872548000I hope the authorities will move quickly to investigate the recent cause of tension & if anyone has broken the law… https://t.co/MJKwGcI7mu— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) 1624872549000Junaid Azim Mattu, Mayor of Srinagar, also tweeted: Our Sikh community is an integral, valuable and equal part and parcel of our society.Their apprehensions should b… https://t.co/TYw8lFPwSm— Junaid Azim Mattu (@Junaid_Mattu) 1624820908000
Converting FORCIBLE GIRLS: Sikh Delegation Meets DGP, asks J & K politicians to speak with ‘forced repentance’ and stand with Sikh
