SIKHS ACROSS THE GLOBE DENOUNCE ATTACK ON NANKANA SAHIB - BUT MANMOHAN SINGH REMAINS SILENT

It has been reported that a mob attacked Guru Nanak Degree College in Lahore on Saturday and then stormed Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib and threw stones at it. Sikhs were attacked and their shops and business establishments ransacked. Two Sikh students, Pritam Singh and Surinder Singh, were hospitalised with injuries from the attack. The attack is believed to be the first of its kind since partition in 1947.

The Panjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi deplored the incident and Tarlochan Singh, Chairman of the National Minorities Commission condemned the attack. The Daily Times newspaper also condemned the attack in its editorial saying that it was "unforgivable".

The timing of the incident, as President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh concluded talks in New York, is seen as highly suspicious and suggests the involvement of some hidden hand. The local administration and police have come in for heavy criticism as they failed to do anything.

Members of the Sikh Sangat Pakistan blocked the road in front of the Lahore Press Club to protest against the attack on Nankana Sahib by students of a local college. "Band-Karo Band-Karo, Gurdwareo Par Hamle Band-Karo!" was heard as Sikh protesters blocked the road. The protesters succeeded in having security stepped up around Nankana Sahib to protect Sikh life and property.

The Sikh Federation (UK) upon hearing the news alerted Sikhs worldwide and urged them to contact Pakistani Embassies wherever they live and the equivalent of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. A message was sent the same day to Manmohan Singh in the USA, deploring him to realise the seriousness of the situation and raise it with the Pakistani authorities. Another message was sent 24-hours later as he arrived in Geneva on Sunday evening.

Within 24-hours the Federation had also met with a UK representative of President General Pervez Musharraf to raise its concerns. The Federation remains in close contact with the UK Foreign Office over the developing situation and has requested a public statement condemning the attack and pressure on the Pakistani authorities to provide proper protection to the Sikh minority and its religious institutions.

Sikhs across the globe have expressed displeasure at the attack, including Bibi Jagir Kaur, Dr. Pritpal Singh convenor American Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (AGPC), Manjit Singh Calcutta and Bhai Sham Singh co chairman of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee. However, it was almost 48-hours after the incident before the new President of the SGPC urged the Indian President Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to "immediately" take up the matter with their respective counterparts in Pakistan and to ensure protection of life and properties of Sikhs living there.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is coming in for heavy criticism as he was made aware of the issue and the link to his meeting in New York, but has failed to make any public statement condemning the attack on Nankana Sahib. His silence has increased speculation that officers of India's external espionage agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) that oppose any progress on the Kashmir problem may have been directly involved in the incident.

Amrik Singh, Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK), said: "We have been in direct contact with representatives of the Pakistan Government and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to impress upon them our outrage and the need to ensure the local government take immediate action against the attackers and there is no repeat of this incident. However, we are disappointed and dismayed that Manmohan Singh has made no public statement condemning the attack despite several messages. We are also shocked the likes of the new President of the SGPC were so slow in making a statement let alone take action regarding the attack on Nankana Sahib".