JOIN USPM appeals for calm in Punjab
The Centre also vowed to remain in touch with the authorities in Austria to bring to justice those who attacked the gurdwara in Vienna.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed distress over the killing of a Sikh sect leader Sant Rama Nand in the Austrian capital on Sunday. The violent incident that took place in a gurdwara in Vienna, has triggered sectarian violence in Jalandhar, Phagwara, Ludhiana and other areas in Punjab.
New Delhi also asked the Indian Embassy in Vienna to keep in close contact with the Austrian foreign office, local police and authorities and make all necessary arrangements to bring the body of the deceased Dera Sach Khand leader to home.
The prime minister said he was “deeply distressed over the outbreak of violence in Punjab after the Vienna incident.”
“Whatever be the provocation, it is important to maintain peace and harmony among different sections of the people,” he added.
Singh also invoked preachings of the Sikh Gurus, and said Sikhism preached tolerance and harmony.
“All the revered gurus of Sikhism preached the values of equality, brotherhood and harmony,” he said, appealing to all sections of the people to abjure violence and maintain peace in Punjab.
The prime minister said the people living in the areas under curfew should allow the security forces to restore law and order.
The Ministry of External Affairs has been in touch with the officials of the Indian Embassy in Vienna ever since the incident took place. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said the attack on the gurdwara in Vienna was a matter of deep concern and regret.
“There is no place for violence in a secular society like India’s and certainly no excuse, whatsoever, for the violation of the sacred premises of a gurudwara for narrow sectarian or other purposes,” said Krishna. “We are receiving the cooperation of the Austrian authorities and are determined to ensure that the perpetrators of this completely mindless and wanton attack are brought to justice.”
He said the ministry officials were monitoring the situation and necessary follow-up action would be taken.