SGPC organises large Gurmat Samagam to conclude 400th Parkash Purb centenary of Ninth Guru

Centre government should fulfill every promise made to Sikhs since 1947 – Giani Harpreet Singh

Amritsar, April 21 (Punjab Post Bureau) – During the large concluding congregation organised by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee dedicated to 400th Parkash Purb (birth anniversary) centenary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Guru and his 401st Parkash Purb on Thursday, message has been given to Government of India to adopt a sincere approach for immediately resolving long-pending Sikh issues.

                In the congregation held on this occasion at historic Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib Diwan Hall, Amritsar, the leaders of Sikh Panth while addressing the Sangat said that the entire life of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was for the protection of Dharma (righteousness) and humanity, but sadly the rights of the Guru’s Sikhs are being suppressed. They said the long-pending Sikh issues are not being resolved. They said the religious freedom of everybody should remain established and protected as per the ideology of the ninth Guru including the Sikhs, who made great contribution for the freedom of the country and if excesses are committed against anyone, then it will be understood that the Government at Delhi is not sincere.

            The Sikh leaders who addressed the Sangat included Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh, SGPC President Advocate S. Harjinder Singh, Head Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib Giani Jagtar Singh, Damdami Taksal Head Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, Bidhi Chand Samprada Head Baba Avtar Singh Sursingh, Tarna Dal Head Baba Nihal Singh Harian Velan, SGPC General Secretary Jathedar Karnail Singh, Baba Teja Singh Khuda Kurala Nirmale, and Baba Gurdial Singh Tandawale.

                  In his address, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh said, “The motive of martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji was to provide right to practice the faith/religion to everyone but today in India, by going against the ideology of the Guru Sahib, the religious beliefs of minorities are being suppressed. Sikh issues are not being resolved. The promises made to the Sikhs since the partition of the country in 1947 to date have not been fulfilled and that is why there is an environment of disbelief in Sikhs.”

                Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib strongly said that to gain trust of the Sikhs, the Centre government should fulfill every promise made to the Sikhs since partition of the country. He added that there is no hidden aspect that the Sikhs are being attacked. 

                  Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh also called upon the Sikh community to give a befitting answer with unity in the matter of distortion of Gurbani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, under a well-planned conspiracy. He said a Panthak congregation has been called at Sri Akal Takht Sahib on May 3, to discuss the issue of distortion of Gurbani, as in the recent past, a person namely Thaminder Singh Anand of USA, published the distorted Gurbani. He said whatever consensual opinion would be reached in this Panthak congregation, strong decision would be taken by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, according to the same. Jathedar also appealed to the Sikhs living abroad to make efforts to connect their future generations with Sikh history and Sikh doctrines.

            SGPC Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami also appealed to the Government of India to resolve the Sikh issues on the occasion of the 401st Parkash Purb of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. He said that today when the Union Government was also organising ceremonies at the Red Fort in Delhi, it would have been better if the Prime Minister dedicating to the Guru Sahib, releases the Sikh prisoners, hand over the management of various Sikh shrines in the country to the Sikhs and announce to take concrete steps against hate crime attacks in the country. He said that the ninth Guru had raised his voice against those who were suppressing the values ​​of Dharma (righteousness), but today the followers of the Guru’s faith are being prevented from guarding the beliefs of their faith in the country. He said Sikhs are being deliberately harassed by making unnecessary issues of Kirpan, one of five Kakaars (symbols of Sikh faith) or turban and sadly, such incidents are not stopping despite several written communications to the governments. He appealed to the government to adopt sincere approach on these issues.

            SGPC General Secretary Jathedar Karnail Singh Panjoli said that paying homage to the 400th Parkash Purb of the Ninth Guru, an initiative should be taken in the Indian Parliament to apologise for the attack on Sri Harmandar Sahib and Sri Akal Takht Sahib in 1984, along with Delhi Sikh genocide. S. Panjoli said at the same time, the decision should be taken to abolish the separate Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, to end the blacklist, release of Sikh prisoners, to abolish Article 25-B of Constitution of India, pending issues of Sikh shrines and issues related to Sikh institutions should be sincerely taken into consideration. He said that this would help in clarifying the truth behind the sentiments of the Centre government towards the Sikhs.

            SGPC honoured many personalities who attended the congregation.  A large number of SGPC members, officials, representatives of many Sikh jathebandis, and the Sangat were also present in the congregation.