Taliban Stop 140 Afghan Sikhs From Boarding Flight To Delhi, Says Report
The Taliban barred at least 140 Afghan Sikh pilgrims from boarding flights from Kabul on Wednesday night, as they attempted to arrive in Delhi for celebrations marking the 400th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur.
Barred from travelling for celebrations
"A kirtan darbar is scheduled to be held on Sunday. Community members from various parts of the world are arriving here. Unfortunately, the Taliban denied the 140 pilgrims access to the Kabul airport," said Partap Singh (Afghan origin), the president of the Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gurdwara in New Mahavir Nagar.
There will be a grand celebration marking the 400th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru.
Meanwhile, Afghan-origin Guljeet Singh, the president of the Guru Nanak Sahib Ji Gurudwara in Vikaspuri, said: "We had requested the Indian government to facilitate their attendance at the mega celebrations. Regret to note that last night, these law-abiding pilgrims were turned back by Taliban security forces from the airport after waiting for more than 15 hours in their convoys."
Three swaroops were brought from Kabul
Earlier this week, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep S Puri received and carried one of three swaroops of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib that were brought from Kabul amid the chaos in Afghanistan.
On August 24, three copies of Guru Granth Sahib and 77 civilians, including Afghan Hindus and Sikhs, arrived at the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi.Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and V Muraleedharan received copies of the Guru Granth Sahib and 44 Afghan Sikhs, who landed in Delhi from Kabul on a special Air India flight.
"Blessed to receive & pay obeisance to three holy Swaroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from Kabul to Delhi a short while ago," tweeted Hardeep Singh Puri. He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for conducting rescue operations in Afghanistan and said the government was in contact with those living there.?
