We all are Indians First: Satnam Singh Sandhu, Founder IMF and Chandigarh University Chancellor
Chandigarh University Chancellor, Founder Indian Minorities Foundation Satnam Singh Sandhu is a personality of par excellence.
He is also an eminent edupreneur, philanthropist, and visionary leader who is driven by the tenets of truthful living and service to humanity and has adopted educa tion as his instrument to deliver equitable and affordable opportunities for all in the higher education landscape in India.
In an exclusive interview with News Kashmir, he talks with Farzana Mumtaz and Rameez Makhdoomi.
Your take on works done for minorities in India in past one decade?
This Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done exemplary things for minorities of India in the past nine years. The narrative being build especially in some countries to show minorities in an oppressed manner is completely false. I have also written a book on it. The Government of esteemed Prime Minister Narendra Modi lead Government has done exemplary things for minorities of India.
What is your message to minorities?
The minorities of our country including Muslims, Sikhs, Parsis , Bahais, Christians, Jewish, Buddhists , Jains etc are integral part of our country. This is our country . Hindus and Sikhs are like brothers. It is the part of dirty politics that has created divide . We have tradition wherein in one family one brother was Sikh and other Hindu.
Do you think that we need to redefine concept of minorities?
There is nothing like minorities and majorities. We are first Indians than anything else. Both Muslims and Sikhs have risen to the top constitutional posts of the country. A Sikh has been Prime Minister, President and Chief Justice. India is the best democracy of world when it comes to the status of minorities.
Do you think Minorities status of Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir is a genuine demand?
Yes absolutely , the the Sikh community accounting for not more than 1.5 lakh of the total population, they deserve the status.
Your take on concerns of
Beadbi’ incidents among Sikh community ?
Revered 10th Guru of Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh ji had affirmed the Sikhs to consider the Guru Granth Sahib to be a living Guru.
This unfortunate matter of Beadbi is an internal matter of Sikh community and it is our fundamental duty to protect and promote the sanctity of Holy Guru Granth Sahib. It is a not a matter of one religion versus another .
How successful was the recent mega event of Indian Minorities Foundation at SKICC Kashmir?
It was an event of spirtual and religious leaders.
We were pleased by the overwhelming response.
In his remarks, the honorable Lt Governor Manoj Sinha ji lauded the crucial role of Indian Minorities Foundation in empowering minorities, promoting Sufism and fostering brotherhood, peace and harmony as envisioned by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji.
Sufi Scholars and Religious leaders from different parts of the country also spoke on the occasion and shared their views on the collective role of every community in building a progressive society and realizing the vision of Developed India.
A large spectrum of society attended the event and the experience was heartening.
We will continue to have many such programs that build harmony and nationalism across country.
