Latest news with #SukhjinderSinghRandhawa
Indian Express
7 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Congress MP Randhawa writes to PM Modi, seeks Amritsar be declared ‘no-war zone'
Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to declare the holy city of Amritsar as a 'No-War Zone' and 'work with international bodies to establish enduring protections for it'. Describing it as 'a matter of profound spiritual and national significance', the MP said, 'The holy city of Sri Amritsar Sahib, home to Sri Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple), is not merely a geographical location, it is the spiritual heartbeat of the Sikh faith and a lighthouse of love and peace for humanity. Its sacred aura transcends religious boundaries, offering comfort, unity and compassion in a world increasingly torn apart by conflict and division.' 'With due respect, I wish to clarify that this appeal is not a request for political sovereignty akin to the Vatican City, but rather a plea for international spiritual recognition and enduring security protections. In an era marked by rising global tensions and militarisation, it is imperative that Sri Amritsar be shielded from the threats of war and violence — now and forever,' the MP wrote. The Congress MP said the universal teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, based on peace, humility and universal brotherhood, serve as a potent moral counterforce to the escalating tide of militarism around the world. 'As many global powers lean increasingly toward conflict, the Sikh ethos of 'Sarbat da Bhala' (the welfare of all) must be elevated and preserved as one of humanity's last hopes for coexistence and peace. Recent geopolitical tensions, particularly during the Indo-Pak standoff, have revived legitimate concerns about Sri Amritsar's potential vulnerability in the event of military conflict,' he said. Randhawa said these concerns, voiced by the Sikh community and civil society alike, necessitate a broader vision, one that goes beyond regional anxieties and calls for an international framework to guarantee the safety and sanctity of this revered city under all circumstances. 'For the Sikh faith, Sri Amritsar holds the same spiritual gravity as Mecca to Muslims and the Vatican to Christians. It is, therefore, my humble submission that the global spiritual significance of Sri Amritsar is officially recognised and that appropriate international security mechanisms—akin to those safeguarding the Vatican — be considered and adopted,' he said. He urged the PM 'to initiate necessary diplomatic and legislative steps toward declaring Sri Amritsar Sahib a 'No-War Zone ' and work with international bodies to establish enduring protections for this sacred site'. 'I trust in your wisdom and statesmanship to consider this appeal not merely as a political request, but as a commitment to safeguarding the soul of a faith and a beacon of peace for all humanity,' the MP added.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Declare Amritsar a ‘no-war zone: Congress MP Randhawa writes to PM
Gurdaspur Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to take steps towards declaring Amritsar district, which is home to the Golden Temple, a 'no-war zone'. The letter was sent weeks after the latest India-Pakistan armed conflict. Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla also wrote a similar letter to the Prime Minister. On May 7, India carried out pre-dawn missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Following the Indian action, Pakistan launched an offensive against Indian military bases and resorted to shelling the border areas for the next three days. In the letter, Randhawa wrote that the city is the spiritual heartbeat of the Sikh faith. 'Its sacred aura transcends religious boundaries, offering comfort, unity, and compassion in a world increasingly torn apart by conflict and division. 'I wish to clarify that this appeal is not a request for political sovereignty akin to the Vatican City, but rather a plea for international spiritual recognition and enduring security protections. 'In an era marked by rising global tension and militarisation, it is imperative that Sri Amritsar is shielded from the threats of war and violence - now and forever,' Randhawa said. 'As many global powers lean increasingly toward conflict, the Sikh ethos of 'Sarbat da Bhala' (the welfare of all) must be elevated and preserved as one of humanity's last hopes for coexistence and peace,' he said. He said that recent geopolitical tensions, particularly during the Indo-Pak standoff, have revived legitimate concerns regarding Amritsar's potential vulnerability in the event of military conflict. 'These concerns, voiced by the Sikh community and civil society alike, necessitate a broader vision - one that goes beyond regional anxieties and calls for an international framework to guarantee the safety and sanctity of this revered city under all circumstances,' the MP said. 'For the Sikh faith, Sri Amritsar holds the same spiritual gravity as Mecca does for Muslims and the Vatican for Christians,' he pointed out. 'It is, therefore, my humble submission that the global spiritual significance of Sri Amritsar be officially recognised, and that appropriate international security mechanisms-akin to those safeguarding the Vatican-be considered and adopted,' he said. He urged that the government of India should initiate necessary diplomatic and legislative steps toward declaring Amritsar a 'no-war zone' and work with international bodies to establish enduring protection of the city.
Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Military Digest I People of Punjab rise to the occasion in Op Sindoor
The fields of Punjab are no stranger to battles from time immemorial. From the Greeks to the Turks and Afghans, successive generations of residents of the state have fought foreign invaders in various shapes and forms. In the post-Independence period, the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars saw pitched battles take place at many places along the border in the undivided Ferozepur, Amritsar, and Gurdaspur districts. However, the short, sharp Indo-Pak conflict during Operation Sindoor brought a new dimension of warfare to the residents of the state. And that was the aerial attack through drones, rockets, and missiles. Accustomed to the hexacopter drones which bring drugs, illegal arms, and ammunition from Pakistan to India, the residents witnessed military grade drones which were seen and intercepted at various places. For a state which has been unaccustomed to such hostilities for the last 54 years, for the initial day or two, there was a general lack of awareness among the district administrations on methods and modalities of blackouts, sirens, and other restrictions. However, everyone learnt the rules very quickly, and the people rallied around the administrative machinery and followed all instructions dutifully. This correspondent was witness to the matter-of-fact manner in which residents of Pathankot and areas around it went about their business, and even shutting down everything and confining themselves at home when air raid sirens were blowing every few minutes due to the enemy drones. A village near Pathankot, Damtal, which actually falls in Himachal Pradesh, was struck by three Pakistani projectiles in a matter of a few seconds. These fell in an uninhabited part of the village, and though the resultant blasts caused some structural damage to the houses due to shock waves, there was no damage or loss of life due to the explosives in the projectiles. Far from running away from fear of rockets and missiles, people of villages where the debris of such intercepted Pakistani munitions fell were quick to take matters into their own hands and physically removed these exploded or unexploded ordnance to a safe distance. While this was a foolhardy thing to do and the district administrations were quick to warn people not to touch these items since they may still cause harm, it in a way displayed the courage and utter lack of fear in those villagers. While initially there were reports that some villagers had vacated their homes in a border district, the majority stayed put where they were and refused to move to safer areas. Border villagers spoken to in the Amritsar district said they have chosen to stay put and look after their homes and domestic animals. So, while the Guru Granth Sahib in border Gurdwaras was relocated to safer areas in the hinterland, the villagers themselves were prepared to see through the hostilities between India and Pakistan in a stoic manner. Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa moved around from village to village when the hostilities were at their peak, and also stayed put in Pathankot when the drone attacks were at their worst. Randhawa now plans to write to the prime minister seeking a special economic package for Punjab as well as border districts, as they have to face the brunt of Pakistani misadventures. As the country marks the 60th anniversary of the 1965 war later this year, it is heartening to see that the spirit of steadfastness shown by Punjabis during that turbulent period six decades ago has been repeated again in Operation Sindoor.
Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
India-Pakistan conflict: Villagers near Zero Line in Punjab in no mood to evacuate, offer Gurdaspur MP chai and pakora after he calls on them
Amid the tension between India and Pakistan, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa was offered tea and pakora (fritters) when he went to check on villagers residing in border areas under his constituency on Friday. 'This is the spirit of Punjab. Punjabis are never afraid. Frankly, I smelt tension at the border. But villagers offered me tea and pakoras when I visited them to check if they were facing any issues,' said Randhawa. Currently, most villagers in the border areas are not ready for evacuation, though some have sent their women and children to safer places. Meanwhile, banking facilities have been interrupted in many areas near the international border. Two bank branches in Khalra village, just 1 km from the border, remained closed on Friday. The deputy commissioner of Tarn Taran also claimed there were no immediate plans to evacuate people. Citing past experiences when full evacuations did not lead to war, locals stated that the current situation may not escalate further. 'I have seen the 1965 and 1971 wars. I know what kind of preparations are made during a war. So far, it is peaceful here. I don't think there would be any war. We were evacuated in 2016, too, after the Uri attack,' said Balwinder Singh, 80, a resident of Khalra village. 'The border villages are not the same as they were during the 1965 or 1971 war, or even during the Kargil war. At that time, we were living a humble life. We didn't have much to lose. But in the last two decades, we have seen vast development in border areas. Now we have good roads and almost all the facilities in our home that you will find in cities,' said Chetan Singh from Rajo Ke village near the Zero Line. 'Earlier, we had kaccha houses. Now we have pucca houses. How can we leave behind homes which have been constructed with such hard work,' he added. MP Randhawa said, 'The administration can't do much here. It will set up shelters. But even poor villagers do not like to live in shelters. They will go to their relatives instead of living in shelters. This is Punjab. Society comes forward at the hour of need.' Meanwhile, the suspension of all commercial and civil flight operations from the Amritsar Airport has been further extended till 5.30 am on May 15. SGPC steps in In light of the growing tensions between India and Pakistan, the Bir (Guru Granth Sahib) was shifted from the Gurdwara Baba Sidhji on the Zero Line near Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on Friday. Devotees pay obeisance here before going to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. Partap Singh, Secretary, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), said residents of border areas can contact the nearest gurdwara under the SGPC management if they require assistance in the wake of the tension between India and Pakistan. The manager of the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Dera Baba Nanak, said, 'We had got a request only from Gurdwara Sidh ji. So, the Bir was brought from there. If any other village would make such a request, then we will bring the Bir from there as well.' Partap Singh said, 'Special arrangements for shelter and meals have been made at nearby gurdwaras for people displaced from border areas.' SGPC had also played a big role in providing langar (food) and shelter to the evacuated population in 2016. Meanwhile, an SGPC team visited Sikhs who were injured in the recent attack in Poonch and assured them of all possible assistance.
