New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met an Afghan Sikh-Hindu delegation at his residence on Saturday. The Afghan Sikh-Hindu delegation praised the Central government for enacting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and thanked him for bringing Sikhs and Hindus safely to India from Afghanistan. PM Modi told the delegation told that India is their home.
"This (India) is your home. You are not a guest for us and every Indian holds the same love and respect towards you," PM Modi said during the meeting today.
Hailing Prime Minister, one of the members named Manjinder Singh Sirsa thanked the Prime Minister for sending help from India for bringing back the community safely, and said that when no one stood with them, the Prime Minister ensured constant support and timely help. "Only you (PM Modi) can understand the pain of the Indians and Sikhs living across the country. Wherever there was a problem I see you came forward," he said.
The delegation members praised Prime Minister for taking various steps to allow the minorities in the neighbouring South Asian countries to take Indian citizenships. "When there was nobody listening, you were the only one who listened to us. They (the Afghan people) are all gathered here to thank you for the battle you fought during the (enactment of) CAA. After this, they get the opportunity to live in India," they said.
The Afghan delegation further said that Narendra Modi is not just the Prime Minister of India, but the "Prime Minister of the world" since he understands the difficulties faced especially by Hindus and Sikhs across the world and makes all out efforts to provide immediate help in all such cases. The delegation gifted an Afghan turban to PM Modi. Appreciating the gesture, Prime Minister said: "It (Afghan turban) is a symbol of Afghanistan. With me wearing the turban gifted by you all, former President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai must have been very happy."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also talked about the significance of the tradition of honouring Guru Granth Sahib, in light of which special arrangements were made to bring back Swaroop of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan. The delegation comprised of Afghan origin Indian national community leaders including Guljeet Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Dr Raghunath Kochar Afghan. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Union Minister of State Meenakashi Lekhi were also present on the occasion. This visit comes after PM Modi hosted a delegation of eminent personalities and spiritual leaders from the Sikh community at his official residence on Friday.
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