New Delhi: India on Friday evacuated 10 Indians and 94 Afghans, including members of the Afghan Hindu-Sikh minority community, from Kabul on board a special flight. Among those evacuated are nine children, including three infants.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in a tweet, said that the 104 individuals were brought to India on board a special Kam Air flight of Afghanistan arranged by India.
“Under Operation Devi Shakti, a special Kam Air flight arranged by India has arrived in New Delhi from Kabul.
“It has brought 10 Indians and 94 Afghans including members of the Afghan Hindu-Sikh minority community. Among the evacuees are 9 children, including 3 infants,” he posted.
Earlier, Puneet Singh Chandhok, President, Indian World Forum, said that the stranded Indians and Afghan Sikhs and Hindus were being flown to New Delhi from Kabul on board a special flight chartered by the Government of India.
He said that three Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Hindu Religious books are also being flown on the flight.The special flight from Kabul arrived on Friday afternoon at Delhi Airport.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and BJP chief JP Nadda received the holy books at the airport and carried them out with reverence.
Minister Puri in a tweet said: “Copies of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, Sri Ramcharit Manas & other Hindu holy scriptures & rare manuscripts from Asamaya Mandir in Kabul were also brought back by members of the Sikh Sangat & Hindu devotees on a special flight today.”
BJP chief JP Nadda said on Twitter that he is feeling blessed to receive copies of the holy scriptures of Guru Granth Sahibji, Srimad Bhagvad Gita and Sri Ramcharitmanas that were brought from Kabul to New Delhi
“It is a matter of pride that the three holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from historical Gurdwaras in Afghanistan and Hindu religious scriptures including Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita from the ancient 5th Century Asamai Mandir, Kabul, are also being flown," said Puneet Singh Chandhok in a press statement.
He said the bonafide Afghan citizens will be rehabilitated by the Sobti Foundation.
The family of Mahram Ali, a local Security Guard who was killed during the terror attack on Gurdwara Guru Har Rai, Shor Bazar, Kabul, is also being airlifted and will be rehabilitated by the Sobti Foundation, Chandhok added.
The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji after their arrival will proceed towards Gurdwara Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Mahavir Nagar, Delhi and the Hindu religious scriptures will proceed towards Asamai Mandir, Faridabad.
Chandhok conveyed his deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team for their cooperation in ensuring safe and smooth passage for everyone.
He also thanked in particular the Ministry of External Affairs, specially J P Singh, Joint Secretary, Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division of the MEA, and other officials, Shweta Singh and Dr Sahil Kumar, for their untiring 24x7 efforts.(UNI)