New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Cutting across party lines, members in the Rajya Sabha today expressed concern over fear and insecurity under which minorities, particularly the Hindus and the Sikhs, live in Pakistan and asked the government to take up the issue with Islamabad. Some of them wanted the government to take up the issue at an international fora like the United Nations.
The matter of atrocities on minorities in Pakistan and killings of some Hindus recently was raised during Zero Hour by Avinash Rai Khanna (BJP). He was supported by a number of members from various political parties associating themselves with the issue. Khanna said Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission in its recent report had pointed out such atrocities on minorities including Hindus, Sikhs and Christians, whose property and life were not secure in that country.
The BJP members said many Hindu families from Pakistan had been camping in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Rajpura and Khanna for quite some time, refusing to return home despite expiry of their visas.
They are seeking Indian citizenship. Khanna said some 28 families have also settled in Delhi’s Majnu Ka Tilla area, seeking Indian citizenship. He said the Indian government was not doing any thing in support of minorities in Pakistan. “The government has not spoken a word in their support,” he said.
S S Ahluwalia (BJP) joined his colleague and asked the government to take up the matter with the United Nations. M S Gill (Cong) too urged the Government to take up the issue seriously. Several other members both from the treasury and the Opposition benches joined them.
