Captain Amarinder Singh Offers Help to Jagjit Kaur and Her Family Amid Pakistan Sikh Conversion Case

September 3, 2019: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh once again criticised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan over the alleged abduction and forced religious conversion of Jagjit Kaur, a 19-year-old Sikh girl from Nankana Sahib, Pakistan. Singh also offered to help Jagjit Kaur and her family relocate to Punjab, India, if they wished to do so.

The case had attracted widespread attention after Jagjit Kaur’s family alleged that she had been abducted from their home, forcibly converted to Islam and made to marry a Muslim man. Her family had appealed to Pakistan’s authorities for help and accused the local police of failing to provide adequate protection.

Earlier, reports emerged that the Pakistani authorities had taken action in the matter. However, uncertainty continued over whether Jagjit had actually been reunited with her family.

On September 3, Pakistan’s Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar announced that the issue had been amicably resolved following discussions between government representatives and members of the Sikh community. He also stated that Jagjit was safe and in contact with her family.

However, on September 7, Ameer Singh, Secretary General of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, clarified that Jagjit was still staying at a shelter home in Lahore and had not yet returned to her parents. This raised further questions about the claim that the matter had been resolved.

Captain Amarinder Singh Offers Support to Jagjit Kaur

Reacting to the developments, Captain Amarinder Singh criticised Imran Khan for what he described as a failure to help Jagjit Kaur. He offered his full support to the young woman and said that he would be happy to help her and her family settle in Punjab.

In a tweet posted on September 2, 2019, Singh wrote:

“Even after so many days, @ImranKhanPTI has failed to help out Jagjit Kaur, forcibly converted & married against her wishes. I would like to extend my full support to the young girl & will be happy to have her & her family settle down in Punjab along with any help needed.”

The Chief Minister’s statement received considerable attention on Twitter, with reports at the time indicating that approximately 16,000 users had liked and shared the post.

Background: The Jagjit Kaur Case

Jagjit Kaur was the daughter of Bhagwan Singh, a Sikh granthi (priest) associated with Gurdwara Tambu Sahib in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan. Her family alleged that she had been abducted on August 28, 2019, and forcibly converted to Islam.

An FIR was registered against six people following the family’s complaint. The case sparked concern among members of the Sikh community in Pakistan and India, with several political leaders calling for an investigation and protection for the young woman.

The Pakistani authorities subsequently said that Jagjit had converted and married of her own free will. She also reportedly made statements before a court supporting that position. Her family’s allegations and her own reported statements became central to the dispute.

The case continued to attract attention because of concerns about her safety, freedom of choice and whether she would be able to return to her family.

Captain Amarinder Singh’s offer highlighted the concern expressed by political leaders and Sikh organisations in India over the case. It also brought renewed attention to the broader issue of the protection of religious minorities and their rights in Pakistan.