Kashmiri students thank Sikhs for ‘restoring faith in humanity’. 

New Delhi: In the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack which killed more than 40 CRPF troopers, Kashmiri students in various parts of the country have been threatened, abused, heckled and even manhandled. This has prompted many of them to try and return home, but even then that is not possible.

Kashmiri students residing in North India especially in the national capital and Uttarakhand have faced the brunt of these attacks. However, there has also been many incidents where people especially the Sikhs in North India who have come in aid of the panic-stricken Kashmiri students.

The last line of the Sikh prayer states ‘Nanak Naam Chardi Kala, Tere Bhane Sarbat Da Bhala’ which means peace and prosperity humanity in general. Many organizations like the ‘Khalsa Aid’ local gurduwaras and even individual Sikhs have come forward to help the Kashmiri students and workers providing them with shelter and food. They are also helping these stranded Kashmiris to return home.

A student who has just returned to Jammu stated Wednesday that even though at times he felt like an alien it was a Sikh family who made him feel that ‘India is his country’.  The Khalsa Aid is providing shelter and food to over 150 stranded Kashmiris here for the last three days and also helping them return to their respective cities. Around 140 students had sought refuge Monday night at Gurdwara Sahib Singh Shaheedan in Mohali. Since then they have been well looked after.

Among the students was Srinagar-based restaurant owner Javid Parsa.  He said the kindness showed by Sikhs, ‘fixed my heart, restored my faith in humanity’.

According to reports, at least 20 buses have been arranged and funded by various organisations for Kashmiri students to travel from Punjab to their respective cities.

A few students who have arrived back in Kashmir from Punjab narrated how Sikhs stood guard outside the premises of their respective institutions to prevent vigilantes and mobs from entering.

PNN/Agencies