In order to hide their difference of opinion on many important issues between JKPCC, State unit of the Congress, and Central leadership, the party leadership has mastered the art of deceiving the people through dual talk. The latest example is the party’s stand on the vital issue of ill treatment of Sikh minorities in Pakistan, stated Brig Anil Gupta, Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party. Senior Congress leader of J&K and AICC General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad casually dismissed the horrific attack on Gurudwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan calling it a “non-issue,” exposing Congress party’s selective outrage while addressing a press conference. On being quizzed by a reporter on the sensitive issue of attack on Sikhs at GurudwaraNankana Sahib rather than condemning the obvious assault on the minority community by radicalised locals with stones and verbal abuses, Azad brushed aside the question by laughing it off saying, “forget that”, rued Brig Gupta.
“Forget that, it is not an issue,” said Ghulam Azad, when told that the protestors were threatening to change the name of Nankana Sahib ji to Ghulam-e-Mustafa and only Muslims will be allowed to live in there. Azad turned a blind when confronted with a live and latest example of the persecution of minorities in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan because it did not suit the agenda of Sonia Congress to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 meant to safeguard the interests of such persecuted minorities. The Congress agenda to oppose the Act is based on opportunistic and communal politics stated Brig Gupta.
While Azad dismissed it as “non-issue”, the Minority Department of JKPCC staged a drama at Jammu by holding a press conference to condemn radical groups in Pakistanand asking ‘Government of India to put pressure on Pakistan to act strictly against the culprits who attacked the historical Gurudwara’. “It is better to be late than never,” retorted Brig Gupta adding further, “though the horrific incident took place more than four days back, the leaders of the minority department of JKPCC mustered courage now to assuage the growing anger among the local Sikh community while other leaders of the Congress have yet not dared to oppose the view of their master & mentor Ghulam Nabi Azad.”
Brig Gupta questioned the Congress and others protesting against the CAA, “What more evidence of oppression of minorities in Pakistan do you need?” There are 16,000 Sikhs in Pakistan holding National Identity Card (NIC) but not all minority members have been issued NIC in Pakistan, the actual figure may be up to 40,000. It is difficult to assess the exact population of minorities in Pakistan because despite repeated demands Pakistan government has not declared the religion-wise population data after the last census held in 2017 fearing the world would note sharp fall in the minority population due to conversion or atrocities committed on them, said Brig Gupta.