Priest of Last Hindu Temple of Kabul Refuses to Flee, Says If He Is Killed It Will Be Seva to the Temple

NEW DELHI: Pandit Rajesh Kumar, the priest of the last Hindu temple of Kabul refuses to flee, saying that if the Taliban kills him it will be his Seva to the temple where his ancestors have always served.

"This is what it takes to be a priest. You can't just take an exam and become that," the priest added.

As the Taliban continued their violence in Afghanistan, Pandit Kumar was urged to leave Kabul, with the other Hindu people and was also offered the arrangements for his travel and stay. However, Pandit Kumar disagreed because of his unwavering loyalty to the temple.

Twitter handle Pankaj Saxena posted, "Pandit Rajesh Kumar, the priest of Rattan Nath Temple in Kabul said: "Some Hindus have urged me to leave Kabul & offered to arrange for my travel and stay. But my ancestors served this Mandir for hundreds of years. I will not abandon it. If Taliban kills me, I consider it my Seva."

The situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating after the Taliban took over Kabul. Since the Taliban captured Kabul, President Ashraf Ghani has fled the nation, admitting that the insurgents have won.

India will help the members of Afghanistan's tiny Sikh and Hindu community to come to India, said the Ministry of External Affairs. "We are in constant touch with the representatives of Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities. We will facilitate repatriation to India of those who wish to leave Afghanistan," foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in a statement.

DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa claimed that after Afghanistan fell into the hands of the Taliban, many Hindus and Sikhs have taken refuge in Kabul's Karte Parwan Gurdwara.

"I am in constant touch with the president of Gurdwara Committee of Kabul and the Sangat who have told me that 320 plus people, including 50 Hindus and 270 plus Sikhs, have taken refuge in Karte Parwan Gurdwara in Kabul in wake of recent developments. "Taliban leaders have met them and assured them of their safety. We are hopeful that Hindus and Sikhs would be able to live a safe and secure life despite political and military changes happening in Afghanistan," Sirsa said.

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