New Delhi, August 21: Amid ongoing tensions in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 earlier this month, several Delhi based Sikh activists have come forward to help Kashmiri girls stranded in Maharashtra's Pune. The activists ensured that all the 32 girls from Jammu and Kashmir were able to get back home safely. After the government's recent move of abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, there has been a communication blackout as restrictions were imposed on internet and mobile connectivity. The girls, who were in Pune for nursing training, were running low on funds and could not get in touch with the family members. In a bid to help the stranded girls, Sikh activists from Delhi raised funds and helped them reach their family in Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmiri Girl Appeals to International Leaders to Support Modi Government's Move to Scrap Article 370 in J&K.
Harminder Singh Ahluwalia, an activist based in Delhi posted a video on Facebook on August 5 saying that Kashmiri people can seek help from nearest Gurdwara or contact him for assistance. Ahluwalia had also added his phone number so that people in need of help could reach out to him.
According to a report by The Logical Indian, the girls, who were between 17 and 22 years of age, were in Pune for a nursing training and placement programme as part of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana. They were to get a placement under the Skill India Programme a few days before the announcement on Article 370. The report added saying that the girls were running low on funds and could not reach out to their parents due to a communication blackout in Jammu and Kashmir.
Here's the Video:
Now this is #India - where one community helps other - 32 Kashmiri girls studying in Pune panicked whn thy lost communication with their families post abrogation of Article 370 shutdown in #Kashmir. The girls approached the Sikh Gurudwara committee4help in going back 2thr homes pic.twitter.com/Tr7Nv11coV
— Neeta Sharma (@NEETAS11) August 19, 2019
Here's the Facebook Post:
As the days passed by, the airfares increased and as the girls had no money, they were stranded in Pune, wanting to go back home. Ahluwalia again took to Facebook to raise money for air tickets for the girls. After the funds were raised in two days, the Sikh community in Pune helped the girls reach the airport. The report further adds that once the girls reached Delhi, Ahluwalia along with other Sikh activists accompanied the girls till Srinagar, thus ensuring the safety of the girls.
Ahluwalia’s actions were widely praised on social media. Reports inform that when the group reached Srinagar, Army officers provided cars to transport the girls to their homes in Shopian, Srinagar, Kupwara, Badgam, and Baramullah districts.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2019 09:43 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).