India evacuates 77 stranded persons from Afghanistan

Passengers bring 3 Shri Guru Granth Sahib from gurdwaras

August 24, 2021 10:51 am | Updated November 22, 2021 09:42 pm IST - NEW DELHI

Three copies of Shri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs, were brought from Kabul.

Three copies of Shri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs, were brought from Kabul.

A special flight of Air India arrived here on Tuesday morning carrying 77 people from Kabul , including 46 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus . The passengers brought three Sri Guru Granth Sahib from gurdwaras. They were evacuated on Monday in an Indian Air Force flight and spent the night at Dushanbe before being airlifted in the special Air India flight.

Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan and the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri received the Sikh holy books at the Delhi airport.

Also read: Taliban warns of ‘consequences’ if U.S. extends evacuation

AI 1956, A special flight of Air India, enroute to Delhi from Dushanbe carrying 78 passengers, including 25 Indian nationals.

AI 1956, A special flight of Air India, enroute to Delhi from Dushanbe carrying 78 passengers, including 25 Indian nationals.

“Blessed to receive and pay obeisance to three holy Swaroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from Kabul to Delhi,” observed Mr. Puri after receiving the holy books.

Puneet Singh Chandhoke, one of the civil society activists who has been coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, said the persons bringing the Sikh holy books would be taken in a procession to Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gurdwara in the capital’s Mahavir Nagar.

Also read: Editorial | India must retain its traditional and historic interest in Afghanistan

“Prominent New York-based entrepreneur Mandeep Singh Sobti and Paramjeet Singh Anand, through their Sobti Foundation, have undertaken the lifetime rehabilitation of these displaced Afghan nationals in coordination and guidance of the Government of India,” Mr. Chandhoke stated.

Mandatory quarantine

As a cautionary measure, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, all the passengers of the flight have been sent for mandatory quarantine for a fortnight at Chhawla camp in Najafgarh.

Read: Opinion | A pragmatic Afghan behind the religious garb?

India is likely to operate a few more flights to evacuate Afghan and stranded Indian citizens in the coming days, Mr. Chandhoke noted.

Kabul continued to remain tense with hundreds of people pouring in from various parts of Afghanistan at the airport, which remains under the control of the U.S. forces.

India has maintained focus on evacuating Sikhs and Hindus while also helping some of the lawmakers and officials associated with the government of President Ashraf Ghani.

 

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