New Delhi:
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said India has shared the concerns with Pakistan over Sikh girl’s abduction, conversion to Islam and a forced marriage to a Muslim man. “Ministry has received a number of representations from various quarters of civil society in India, at reports of the incident of abduction and forced conversion of a minor Sikh girl in Pakistan. We have shared the concerns with Pakistan government and asked for immediate remedial action.” News agency ANIquoted MEA as saying.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also demanded that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan take stern action against those responsible for it and said they should not be allowed to get way. He also urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to raise the issue with his counterpart in Islamabad.
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Daughter of a Sikh Granthi (priest), the girl was kidnapped by some unidentified men in Nankana Sahib, which happens to be the birthplace of Guru Nanak - the founder of Sikhism. The video of the ‘nikah’ has gone viral. The girl, who is visibly disturbed, is seen uttering few verses from Quran. She even declares in the video that she is marrying the boy, identified as one Mohammad Ehsaan, on her own will. She also claims in the video that she is 19. However, her brothers have said that the girl is between 16 and 17 years.
After intense scrutiny and protests, there are reports coming in from Pakistan that the officials have ordered some probe. Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has ordered an investigation into the Nanakana Sahib incident. The family of the girl also issued a video appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Chief Justice of the country.
Modi government has also reacted to the incident. “We have, time and again raised the issue of persecution, abduction, treatment of minorities and conversions in Pakistan. They have an obligation towards these people, they must fulfil it,” foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said. “They must check themselves before saying anything to others, their home is burning, so they must first focus on it,” he added.
