Ludhiana, October 2 (Indian Express): In yet another example of people striving for communal harmony, the Jama Masjid of Ludhiana and a Gurudwara have donated money to the Sikh organization “Khalsa Aid” to continue to run its langar (community kitchen) for Rohingya refugees on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
Shahi Imam Punjab, Maulana Habib ur Rahman, presented a cheque of INR 9.32 lakh to the volunteers of Khalsa Aid at Jama Masjid premises in Field Ganj of Ludhiana.
The sum includes INR 1 lakh contributed by Gurudwara Dukhnivaran Sahib of Ludhiana, one of the largest Sikh temples in Punjab.
Their head priest Pritpal Singh said Sikhism is not about differentiating people on the basis of religion.
“We have donated the amount for the service of humanity,” he said.
Sikh volunteers from Khalsa Aid were also honored at Jama Masjid for running a langar for Rohingya refugees.
“Sikh volunteers have shown the true spirit of humanity by filling the empty stomachs of Rohingya refugees. I also thank all those people who came forward to donate for this noble cause and we were able to collect INR 9.32 lakh for it.
Even when Hindu pilgrims were killed by terrorists during Amarnath Yatra we had protested against it. No one can be targeted on the basis of religion. We thank the Sikh community for running a langar for Rohingya refugees,” said Rahman.
Meanwhile, Gursahib Singh, Khalsa Aid volunteer said that the langar service at the border for Rohingya refugees is running unabated since September 14 and thousands are being fed on daily basis.
“We were trolled on social media for serving Muslims and people questioned us that why Hindus are never fed. But Sikhism means serving humanity, not any particlua religion. Also, at the border there are not only Muslim refugees but also Hindus who have fled Myanmar. We are serving everyone without any differentiation on the basis of religion. Guru ka langar is always open for all,” he said.
(The featured picture at the top shows Muslims and Sikhs of Ludhiana in Indian Punjab donating money for a Sikh run a community kitchen for Rohingya refugees)
