New Delhi: After the Islamic State’s attack on a gurdwara in Kabul, Afghanistan, claimed 25 Sikh lives, BJP leader Kapil Mishra Wednesday tweeted “What would those who were distributing langar in Shaheen Bagh be thinking today?” The tweet didn’t go down well with Sikhs on Twitter who called out Mishra’s attempt at what some of them said was “spreading poison of communalism”.
काबुल में 11 सिखों की हत्या, गुरुद्वारे पर हमला
दुःखद, दर्दनाक, अमानवीय, अक्षम्य
शाहीन बाग में लंगर बांटने वाले आज क्या सोच रहे होंगे ? pic.twitter.com/5cYi0qhdBN
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) March 25, 2020
On Wednesday, four terrorists attacked Gurdwara Har Rai Sahib in Kabul. There were over 120 people in the gurdwara at the time and the attack claimed over 25 lives. According to SITE, which monitors terrorist networks, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for this strike.
Mishra’s tweet was a not-so-veiled reference to Sikhs who volunteered to distribute langar at the Shaheen Bagh protest site. During the anti-CAA protests, the Sikh community had drawn headlines when they expressed solidarity with the protesters.
Mishra’s tweet has received over 12,000 retweets and 34,000 likes so far.
After Mishra’s tweet, several Sikh users on Twitter asserted that “Sikhs will never start thinking like this”.
कपिल सर सिखों की सोच नहीं बदलेगी.. गुरुओं ने सिखाया सेवा करना ही है। आज भी गुरुद्वारे बंद जरूर हैं लेकिन लंगर बनकर गरीब मजदूरों के लिए जा रहा है।
— Amandeep Singh (@singhaman1904) March 25, 2020
Kawalpreet Kaur, a Twitter user said, “Sikhs who were killed in Kabul terror attack today are not your pawn to vouch for your anti-Muslim and anti-constitution CAA.”
Sikhs who were killed in Kabul terror attack today are not your pawn to vouch for your anti-muslim and anti-constitution CAA. They aren’t at mercy of Modi Govt. What they need is justice and empathy. If you are with them then fight for justice for minorities in your own country.
— Kawalpreet Kaur (@kawalpreetdu) March 25, 2020
A Sikh twitter user asserted that “Sikhs will continue to stand for victims and will continue to provide Langar to needy, doesn’t matter if it’s ISIL or someone else behind this attack.”
Sikhs will continue to stand for victims and will continue providing Langar to needy, doesn’t matter it’s ISIL or someone else behind this attack. For us, Hindus and Muslims are human first. Killing us is easy but no one can kill principles given to us by our Gurus. DEG TEG FATEH https://t.co/szBRvUMlzG
— Gurpreet S. Sahota (@GurpreetSSahota) March 25, 2020
Another user wrote that despite the attack on Sikhs in Kabul, they will continue to be everyone’s well wishers.
हम आज भी सरबत का भला ही सोच रहे है।
थोड़ी शर्म बची है तो डूब मर देश वैसे ही इतनी आपदा से जूझ रहा है और तुमको अपनी जहरीली साम्प्रदायिकता फैला रहे हो। इतने जहरीले हो तुम भी उन जाहिलो से कम नही जो आंतक फैला रहे दुनिया भर में।— जगजीत (@jagjeet10jan) March 25, 2020
यही की नफ़रत के ख़िलाफ़ लड़ाई न आसान थी, न आसान होगी।
लेकिन फिर भी दुनिया उन्हीं के दम पर आबाद है और रहेगी जो प्रेम, भाईचारे और विश्वास की बात करते हैं, इसे मानते हैं ।
— Gurdeep Singh Sappal (@gurdeepsappal) March 25, 2020
Fu*k off @KapilMishra_IND as a Sikh I still stand with my Muslim brothers & sisters. We Sikhs still support #ShaheenaBagh. Don't forget Akal Takht has also decreed we do it
Why are u so happy ISIS attacked a Gurdwara in Kabul? Did you pay them? 90% victims of ISIS are muslims. https://t.co/zl9Xxr3Jd2— KEWRIOUS-TweetInder (@TweetInder) March 26, 2020
This isn’t the first time that Mishra has been accused of spreading hate. In February, Mishra had held a pro-CAA rally in Northeast Delhi’s Jaffrabad, soon after which communal riots started in the capital eventually killing over 53 people. During the rally, Mishra gave a “three-day” ultimatum to the Delhi Police asking them to get the roads cleared of anti-CAA protesters in the city.
Also read: In Afghanistan, a new ‘great game’ with ISIS, ISK and Pakistan is on with a vengeance