Kashmiri students and traders, who reached safely home today, had many a story to narrate on the help extended by members of the Sikh community in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack, providing them not only food and shelter in Punjab, but also protection.
To express gratitude, hundreds took to the Internet. A cartoon depicting a Sikh extending his arm to a drowning Kashmiri was an instant hit. Cartoonist Suhail Naqashbandi tweeted: “Sardar means a leader and they lead by example. Hats off for being everywhere to help.”
A picture of members of the Sikh community standing guard outside a college in Punjab went viral too. “This is real humanity which these braveheart brothers showed,” tweeted Peer Adil, an engineering student.
“We will never forget what you have done for us in this hour of distress,” wrote Dr Showkat Shaida even as the Gulmarg Snow Bikers Association announced to charge 60 per cent less from Sikh tourists and a doctor vowed free consultation to Sikh children for the whole year.
Khalsa Aid India won special appreciation. “There are so many Punjabis to make sure every Kashmiri is safe here,” said Amarpreet Singh, the director.
Punjab has nearly 4,000 Kashmiri students. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh too came in for praise. “We will ensure their dignity is preserved. No innocent will be subjected to harassment,” he has assured.
With unflinching support of the Sikh Community for Kashmiries stranded in the length and breadth of Kashmir Valley, the social media in Kashmir is flooded with the posts expressing thanks and gratitude to the Sikh Community for their help and rescue.
Pertinently, Sikhs especially International humanitarian organization Khalsa Aid, local Gurdwara Committees came on the forefront to rescue Kashmiri Muslims who are facing harassment by vigilante mobs following the Pulwama attack on 14 February.
Besides protection, the Sikhs provide food and shelter to the stranded Kashmiris and helped them reach their homes in Kashmir.
A number of netizens, who run different types of business in Valley, announced heavy discounts for the Sikh Community, among them a man from Srinagar announces to forgive a debt of Rs 40,000 (Forty Thousand) to a member of Sikh Community hailing from
Ishtiyaq Ahmad Wani, who runs a business of Tea Vending Machines in Srinagar, in a bid to express gratitude to the Sikh Community, announces to waiver off the debt Rs 40,000 (Forty Thousand) to a member of Sikh Community hailing from
Talking to Kashmir Post, Ishtiyaq Wani said: “We Kashmiris are very thankful to the Sikh Community for their unconditional support to the Kashmiris, harassed by the goons outside Valley, as a mark of gratitude I forgave the debt of Rs 40,000 to my business client who hails from
“Because of the prevailing situation, the business in South Kashmir has affected a lot, as such, …….Singh was not able to clear the dues, even he has blocked me. Now I happily for granted his debt of Rs 40,000.”
Pertinent to mention here, Sikhs share around 3% of total Kashmir’s population.
