Beheaded Sikh's cousin wants Indian citizenship

New Delhi: On Monday morning, there were special prayers in Gurudwaras across Punjab. And outrage at the abduction and brutal beheading of Sikh youths in Pakistan's Peshawar by the Taliban. (Read & Watch: Taliban behead Sikhs: India to talk to Pak)

Arvinder Singh, whose cousin Jaspal Singh was beheaded in Pakistan, and who is currently visiting India on his way back to Pakistan, told NDTV that  the conditions in Pakistan were not very good for Sikhs. "Sikhs are not treated well...one who was killed, he is my cousin...we want Indian citizenship," he said.

The Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC) has appealed to the Government of India to take up the matter with Pakistan saying they will not tolerate any more incidents like this in future. The SGPC is trying to establish contact with Sikhs in Pakistan to find out more about their condition.

"A delegation of the SGPC should be given permission to go there and find out what exactly happened. The Indian government should take up the matter," said Avtar Singh Makkar, SGPC chief. (Read: Taliban behead Sikh youth in Pakistan)

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Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal has promised to take the matter up with the Central government.

"There are certain people who do not want peace in Punjab, though three people have been kidnapped, one was killed. We will investigate the case," he said.

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For many years there has not been much migration of Sikhs from Pakistan. But this incident may well force the community to reconsider its options.