Published 08:48 IST, August 31st 2019
Sikh girl forced conversion in Pakistan: Sirsa calls Pak rescue a lie
Giving relief to the victim of forced-conversion, the Sikh who was allegedly abducted and converted to Islam in Pakistan, has been sent to parents on Saturday
Giving relief to the victim of forced-conversion, the Sikh who was allegedly abducted and converted to Islam in Pakistan, has been sent to her parents on Saturday, as reported by ANI. Punjab's Nankana Sahib police have arrested eight people in connection with the case, according to ANI. This news comes two days after Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Manjinder Sirsa shared a video of the grieving family. The Sikh family alleged that their relative, an 18-year old woman was abducted. They also alleged that she was forcefully converted into Islam.
Sirsa denies Sikh girl's return
But contradicting ANI, Sirsa has tweeted on Saturday that the Sikh girl has not yet returned home. He alleged that the victim was shown to her parents from a distance at Governor’s House. He slammed Pakistan for spreading false news in a bid to curb Sikh anger. He said that this was bid by the country to prevent Sikhs from protesting during the International Sikh Convention of Lahore. He categorically states that the Sikh girl has not returned home.
'Sikh girl forced to convert,' alleged family
"The woman who was abducted yesterday is my sister she was threatened that her brothers and father would be shot if she did not accept Islam," said one of the brothers who identified himself as Manmohan Singh in the video. "I request Imran Khan and Army Chief of Pakistan (Qamar Javed) Bajwa to help us in bringing the girl back so that it does not backfire on them on the Kartarpur and Kashmir issues," he added. Sirsa posted the video on Twitter and appealed to Pakistani Sikhs to seek help from Imran Khan. He also urged PM Narendra Modi and EAM Dr. S Jaishankar to raise this issue. The family has alleged that she was converted by coercion. They said that she was threatened that her brothers and father would be shot if she did not convert to Islam.
Top leaders demand justice
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh too had appealed to the Pakistan Prime Minister to intervene in the matter. He shared the family's plea video and urged the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take action with his counterpart. He had cited that at global level Sikhs were angered over forced conversions in Pakistan and threatened the religion. The issue had also triggered reactions from Kavinder Gupta, former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and a BJP leader. He too appealed to the government that immediate and strict action should be taken in the case of abduction.
Bajji reacts to forced conversion
Reacting to the issue, Cricketer Harbhajan Singh said these things must stop and strict action must be taken. Harbhajan Singh also said that each and every religion is beautiful in its own way and no one should be forced to change their religion. He added that these things are decided by God and one should not try to imitate Him. He also tagged Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S Jaishankar, appealing to them to take strict action.
Updated 09:14 IST, August 31st 2019