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Awtar Singh or Awtar Singh Khalsa (1966 - 1 July 2018) was an Afghan politician. He was the Sikh representative to the Loya Jirga from Paktia Province, the only non-Muslim representative there. His native tongue was Punjabi.[1] He was in charge of the main Sikh temple (Gurdwara) in Kabul.[2]
Singh was a member of the Mesherano Jirga (upper house) for a five-year term, beginning in 2005.[3]
He had planned to contest the minority seat in the 2018 parliamentary elections. Singh was killed in Jalalabad on 1 July 2018 in a suicide bombing that killed 18 other people, mostly from Afghanistan's Sikh and Hindu minorities. ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack.[4] Singh was 52 and is survived by his wife and 4 children, one of whom was injured in the blast.[5] His son Narendra Singh Khalsa contested the minority seat and won.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Afghanistan, Unveiling (27 March 2014). "Awtar Singh Khalsa: 'They Gave the Hindus and Sikhs a place for rubbish disposal as a Place to Live'". huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ "Afghan Hindus, Sikhs see hope". The Tribune (Chandigarh). 10 June 2002. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ "Awtar Singh Khalsa: "They gave the Hindus and Sikhs a place for rubbish disposal as a place to live"". FIDH. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ "Afghanistan blast: Sikhs among 19 dead in Jalalabad suicide attack". BBC News. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ "Avtar Singh Khalsa, Sikh candidate for October polls among 20 killed in Afghanistan blast". Indian Express. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ Bhaumik, Anirban (22 August 2021). "Sikh Afghan lawmaker Narender Khalsa among evacuees". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
External links
[edit]- Afghan Hindus, Sikhs see hope The Tribune - June 9, 2002
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