New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that although Sindh is not currently part of India, the region continues to hold a profound connection to India’s civilisational heritage.
During an event, Singh expressed the belief that Sindh, which was once part of undivided India prior to 1947 and subsequently became part of Pakistan, “may one day return to Indian sovereignty”.
His remarks come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, especially following Operation Sindoor carried out in May.
Addressing the Sindhi Samaj Sammelan in New Delhi on Sunday, Singh stated that “civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India,” asserting that geopolitical boundaries are not permanent. He remarked, “Today, the land of Sindh may not be within India’s borders, but culturally and civilisationally, Sindh remains an intrinsic part of India. Borders can change over time. Who knows, perhaps tomorrow, Sindh might once again be part of India.”
Sindh, now part of Pakistan, is the ancestral homeland of the Sindhi community, which forms a significant segment of India’s population today. It is also historically notable as the birthplace of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Singh invoked the legacy of veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani while highlighting the emotional and cultural ties that Sindhi Hindus continue to share with the region, even decades after Partition. Citing Advani’s writings, Singh noted that many Sindhi Hindus of earlier generations have not fully accepted the separation of Sindh from India.
He added that both Hindus and many Muslims in Sindh have traditionally regarded the waters of the Indus River as sacred. “I want to mention Lal Krishna Advani here. He wrote in one of his books that Sindhi Hindus, especially those of his generation, still have not come to terms with Sindh’s separation from India. Not just in Sindh, but across India, Hindus have considered the Indus River as sacred. Many Muslims in Sindh also believed that the water of the Indus was as sacred as the Aab-e-Zamzam of Mecca. This is Advani’s quote,” Singh explained.
Reaffirming the enduring cultural bond, Singh stated that the people of Sindh—regardless of where they reside today—will “always be our own.”
The timing of these remarks has drawn international attention, as they come amidst a complex geopolitical backdrop, likely prompting strong diplomatic responses from Pakistan in the days ahead.
During the same event, Singh also revisited the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), emphasizing that the legislation was essential to safeguard persecuted minority communities in neighboring countries. He argued that these communities, including Sindhis, had faced severe violence and discrimination for years, yet governments driven by appeasement politics failed to support them adequately.
Singh pointed out that the Hindu community, in particular, was neglected despite their genuine need for assistance. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with recognizing their suffering, which he said was the primary motivation behind the enactment of the CAA.
Highlighting the plight of minorities, Singh stated: “Minority communities in many neighboring countries have endured suffering for years. Their homes have been burned, children killed, women subjected to cruelty and torture, and forced conversions have taken place. When some of them managed to escape and come to India, the treatment they received from governments seeking votes was condemnable. They were humiliated simply to serve the vote bank of a particular community.”
He further elaborated: “A special class of people fleeing from neighboring countries was given refuge. But the Hindu community, which truly needed help, was denied the rights they deserved. Their suffering was not understood with compassion. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi understood their pain and, therefore, introduced the CAA.”
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. The law also exempts these applicants from certain immigration restrictions, aiming to protect persecuted minorities fleeing religious and ethnic violence.