Not that it is a surprise. Do u remember hangama in 'gupshup gallery' forum when someone posted the picture of Lord Ganesh. Given this level of intolerence and fanaticism even among educated Pakis, one would not be surprised of what the asylum-seekers are telling about mullas and villagers.
If at all, our dead bodies will return to Pak: Migrant Hindus
ANUPREETA DAS
KAHNAUR (ROHTAK): Siddhuram, 35, is willing enough to talk about why he, along with his wife and eight children, has fled Pakistan, but on one condition. ``In what way can you help me?'' he asks. After extracting promises that you will not ``send me back'', he narrates his story.
Five days ago, seven Hindu families a group totalling 40, including 14 adults and 26 children arrived from Leyya district in Punjab, on the Samjhauta Express, at their relatives' doorstep in this Haryana village of 5,000.
``If we go back, they will force us to convert to Islam,'' says Siddhuram, who used to work as a daily wage labourer in his native Jamanshah, Leyya.
Unable to face relentless discrimination by Muslim villagers any longer Hindu women reportedly are not allowed to touch water taps, children are slapped for playing with Muslim neighbours, their temple was destroyed the group escaped to India with little other than their passports and visas for a 30-day stay.
``But there is no way we are going back once our visas expire. (Ab to sirf hamari lashen jayengi Pakistan) (If at all, our dead bodies will go to Pakistan), says Vazir Chand. Chand, who used to run an electro-homeopathy clinic, says he stopped getting patients after he refused to convert to Islam.
The group, which is trying desperately to collect the Rs 31,500 needed to extend their visas for a year, is already being wooed by a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) representative and has met local government authorities in Rohtak.
``We've come on the pretext of meeting our relatives, but actually, we're saving our lives,'' says Allah Doya Ram, who now feels safe enough to drop the `Allah' prefix. He claims the Hindu minorities in Leyya were initially issued separate identity cards, which were later withdrawn, but the hostility didn't abate.
``Our children are being forced to adopt Islamiyat in school,'' says Madan Lal. There is another reason why they are seeking a home in India. Asks Lal: ``Who will marry our teenaged daughters in Pakistan, especially since many Hindu people there are converting to Islam?''
In 1998, 40 of the 60 Hindu families in Leyya traded their religion in the hope of a better life, after which the conversion threats from villagers and maulvis became unbearable for the remaining Hindu families. Faced with indifferent government authorities in Pakistan, they had no choice but to flee.
``We were not allowed to celebrate any Hindu festival, except after 11 pm, and that too, within our homes. Even the dead had to be buried according to Muslim customs,'' says Sabomai. She claims several women and young girls had been abducted, forced to convert and then married off to Muslims in the past two years.
The families of these asylum-seekers (mostly Rajputs), had chosen to remain in Pakistan after Partition, and the passage to India only began recently, in the aftermath of ``the increasing violence between the two countries'', feels Siddhuram, who doesn't hesitate to indulge in his own bit of Muslim-bashing. ``I hate all Muslims now, even those in India,'' he says.
The Kahnaur locals too have been enraged by the ``inhuman treatment'' meted out to their relatives. ``They will stay and work here with us now,'' asserts Marfat Chandrabhan, a village elder. Already, members of the Pakistani group have started tilling neighbouring fields, and are living out of temporary brick and cardboard structures. One such structure holds their 'imandir' , which they have brought with them from Leyya. EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
[This message has been edited by ZZ (edited September 12, 2000).]
If at all, our dead bodies will return to Pak: Migrant Hindus
ANUPREETA DAS
KAHNAUR (ROHTAK): Siddhuram, 35, is willing enough to talk about why he, along with his wife and eight children, has fled Pakistan, but on one condition. ``In what way can you help me?'' he asks. After extracting promises that you will not ``send me back'', he narrates his story.
Five days ago, seven Hindu families a group totalling 40, including 14 adults and 26 children arrived from Leyya district in Punjab, on the Samjhauta Express, at their relatives' doorstep in this Haryana village of 5,000.
``If we go back, they will force us to convert to Islam,'' says Siddhuram, who used to work as a daily wage labourer in his native Jamanshah, Leyya.
Unable to face relentless discrimination by Muslim villagers any longer Hindu women reportedly are not allowed to touch water taps, children are slapped for playing with Muslim neighbours, their temple was destroyed the group escaped to India with little other than their passports and visas for a 30-day stay.
``But there is no way we are going back once our visas expire. (Ab to sirf hamari lashen jayengi Pakistan) (If at all, our dead bodies will go to Pakistan), says Vazir Chand. Chand, who used to run an electro-homeopathy clinic, says he stopped getting patients after he refused to convert to Islam.
The group, which is trying desperately to collect the Rs 31,500 needed to extend their visas for a year, is already being wooed by a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) representative and has met local government authorities in Rohtak.
``We've come on the pretext of meeting our relatives, but actually, we're saving our lives,'' says Allah Doya Ram, who now feels safe enough to drop the `Allah' prefix. He claims the Hindu minorities in Leyya were initially issued separate identity cards, which were later withdrawn, but the hostility didn't abate.
``Our children are being forced to adopt Islamiyat in school,'' says Madan Lal. There is another reason why they are seeking a home in India. Asks Lal: ``Who will marry our teenaged daughters in Pakistan, especially since many Hindu people there are converting to Islam?''
In 1998, 40 of the 60 Hindu families in Leyya traded their religion in the hope of a better life, after which the conversion threats from villagers and maulvis became unbearable for the remaining Hindu families. Faced with indifferent government authorities in Pakistan, they had no choice but to flee.
``We were not allowed to celebrate any Hindu festival, except after 11 pm, and that too, within our homes. Even the dead had to be buried according to Muslim customs,'' says Sabomai. She claims several women and young girls had been abducted, forced to convert and then married off to Muslims in the past two years.
The families of these asylum-seekers (mostly Rajputs), had chosen to remain in Pakistan after Partition, and the passage to India only began recently, in the aftermath of ``the increasing violence between the two countries'', feels Siddhuram, who doesn't hesitate to indulge in his own bit of Muslim-bashing. ``I hate all Muslims now, even those in India,'' he says.
The Kahnaur locals too have been enraged by the ``inhuman treatment'' meted out to their relatives. ``They will stay and work here with us now,'' asserts Marfat Chandrabhan, a village elder. Already, members of the Pakistani group have started tilling neighbouring fields, and are living out of temporary brick and cardboard structures. One such structure holds their 'imandir' , which they have brought with them from Leyya. EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
[This message has been edited by ZZ (edited September 12, 2000).]
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