Amritsar: Stressing on the need of evolving a code of conduct for heads of all five Takht’s, the Dal Khalsa has stated that the Akali Dal through it extension counter the SGPC was going to commit another blunder by sacking Takhat Damdama Sahib Jathedar Gaini Balwant Singh Nanadgarh from the post unceremoniously.
Perturbed over the proposed move engineered by Sukhbir Badal, party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh while addressing the press conference at party office said time and again unsavory situation arises because there were no set rules and procedures regarding the appointment, removal, working sphere and jurisdiction of heads of these temporal institutions.
Dal Khalsa leaders addressing the press conference
A meeting of party’s working committee was held at finalize the programme of public protest on 26 Jan at four different cities to mark India’s 66th republic day. SAD (Panch Pardani) leaders will also join the protest.
While appealing for complete boycott of 26 January functions, party spokesperson said that India was claiming to be a big democratic country in the world and celebrates 26 January as its republic day but its democratic claims are being badly exposed as it continuous to rob Punjab of its river waters by subverting the spirit of Constitution, denies democratic rights and distinct identity to Sikhs, imposes Hindu laws on Sikhs and suppresses legitimate struggle with militarily and police batons, bullets and detentions.
Interacting with the media after presiding over the meeting, the spokesperson said that the Sikhs were neither the enemies of India nor its people. While appealing to school children, teachers and parents not to be part of the 26 January function and stay away from celebrations, he said for Sikhs there was no constitutional and moral justification to celebrate these functions because there was no sign of its true democracy on the ground.
The meet observed that to save religious institutions from further decline, Sikhs in their collective wisdom should evolve code of conduct for Takht Jathedar’s.
To a question, he said the decline in religious leadership should be seen in tandem with the decline in political leadership, says Singh. The Akalis continue to dabble in Gurdwara affairs and politics despite having dropped their Panthic agenda”.
He said previously the Jathedars were appointed in consultation with different Sikh institutions and with the eminent people of the community. But this ended long time back and now it’s one man affair. He said the Akali Dal under Badals has always shrugged off from codifying the post of Takht Jathedar to keep it under its tight control for vested interests.
He termed the signatures of 150 SGPC members as “managed” on the orders of Sukhbir Badal, he said the reasoning given by the SGPC to sack Nanadgarh was just a camouflage. The real reason is Jathedar’s stand on original Nankshahi calendar and his sharp criticism against Sant Samaj.
Regrading clearance to film MSG by tribunal, he said it has been done under BJP’s political pressure in lieu of Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s support to Hindutva party. He appealed to Punjab govt to ban it and urged the Punjab theater association not to screen the film of controversial person in Punjab.