Afghanistan: Kabul's Rattan Nath Temple Priest Not Ready To Leave Even After Taliban

Aug 18, 2021, 13:03 IST

Thousands of Afghans are fleeing Afghanistan after the Taliban captured Kabul. Afghan diplomats including President Ashraf Ghani has fled the nation. The situation in Afghanistan is very worse after the Taliban took over Kabul. We have seen many heartbreaking videos, wherein people have been rushing to find a place in the aircraft in the hope of an escape route. We have also seen some people falling mid-air to their death after they clung to the aircraft.

The Ministry of External Affairs released a statement saying that India will help the Sikh and Hindu community from Afghanistan to come to India. Foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in a statement - “We are in constant touch with the representatives of Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities. We will facilitate repatriation to India of those who wishes to leave Afghanistan.”

Some of the people are leaving the nation whereas a few others are choosing to stay in Afghanistan itself. One such person is the Hindu Priest Pandit Rajesh Kumar of the Rattan Nath temple in Kabul is not in the mood to leave the temple and go away. Many of his Hindu acquaintances have reportedly offered to arrange for Pandit Rajesh Kumar to leave the nation. But he said that "Some Hindus have urged me to leave Kabul and offered to arrange for my travel and stay. But my ancestors served this Mandir for hundreds of years. I will not abandon it. If the Taliban kills me, I consider it my Seva. 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."

Pandit Rajesh Kumar, the priest of Rattan Nath Temple in Kabul:

"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 kiIIs me, I consider it my Seva"

— Bharadwaj (@BharadwajSpeaks) August 15, 2021