Interview: ‘Pakistan needs to protect its Hindu community’

The kidnappings of Hindus are condemnable; govt should take stern action against the culprits, says Shadani.

LAHORE: The kidnappings of Hindus, particularly innocent children from Sindh and Balochistan, are condemnable; the Pakistan government should take stern action against the culprits, said Shadani ninth Satguru San Yudhishtar Lal sahib speaking exclusively with The Express Tribune.

Lal completed his 10-day yatra in Pakistan along with 47 other Hindu pilgrims on Sunday. On Monday, he left for India via Wagah border. During their 10-day stay, the pilgrims celebrated the 302nd birthday of Shadaram sahib. Sant Shadaram Ji Maharaj was known as a reincarnation of Bhagwan Shiva.

Lal is sant swami head of Shadani Mission and he is on the Shadani Gaddi at Shadani Darbar Sant Shadani Nagar, Raipur, India.]

The Foundation of Shadani Darbar was laid at Hayat Pitafi Tehsil Mirpur Mathelo Ghotki district in 1786 by Sant Shadaram Sahib who was born in Lahore in 1708.

Lal expressing concern over the recent kidnappings of two Hindu children from interior Sindh said four-year-old Shivam from Khanpur Mehar in Ghotki district and three-year-old Roshni from Kashmore district had been kidnapped in the first week of December and had not yet been recovered. He said the parents of these children were despairing.

He said that as the ninth Satgur, it was his responsibility to raise his voice against the kidnappings. He said that it was terrible for the Hindu community that their children were being kidnapped for ransom.

He called on the federal government to take extraordinary measures to protect the Hindu community.

Dr Ramesh Kumar, a former member of the Sindh Provincial Assembly, said that every month two to three Hindus were being kidnapped and released after bhang (ransom) was paid. He said Dr Shamlal, kidnapped from Karachi, was still missing. He said Hindus from Karachi, as well as interior Sindh, particularly Ghotki, Kashmore, Kandhkot were being kidnapped.

He said Satesh Kumar had been kidnapped from Karachi last year and released only after the payment of a hefty ransom. He regretted that the government had failed to stop these kidnapping.

Shadani Darbar caretaker Jaeye Ramdas told The Express Tribune that many Hindus had expressed their concerns before Lal. He said that Hindu residents of Ghotki appeared to be the most vulnerable in this regard.

The Evacuee Trust Property Board Sindh deputy secretary Siraj said that kidnapping for ransom was a routine with dacoits in Sindh. He said while the situation was deplorable it did not amount to a religiously motivated crime. He said a large number of Muslims were similarly kidnapped and made to pay ransoms. He said the government was aware of the problem and trying to eradicate it.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2011.