Toronto: The Gurdwara management committees across Canada have collectively resolved to “bar” officials representing India- including diplomats and other officials from interfering with Sikh affairs through Sikh gurdwaras.
Members of the managements of various gurdwaras in the Canadian province of Ontario after a meeting at which they decided to ban representatives of India from Gurdwaras
This decision was made at a meeting reportedly held at the Jot Parkash Gurdwara in Brampton, a suburb of Toronto, on December 30.
While interacting with the media, a spokesman of the Ontario Gurdwara Committees (OGC) said that managements of 15 gurdwaras in the Greater Toronto Area had jointly agreed to this decision. Approximately 30 members of the managements of these Gurdwaras were present at the meeting on Saturday, he said.
A statement (copy available with Sikh Siyasat News) released by the Joint management of the gurdwaras stated “Keeping in mind the interference of Indian Consular and Indian Government officials in the lives of Canadian Sikhs, Gurdwara Management Committees have jointly taken the decision to bar the entry of these officials and members from Gurdwaras across Canada.”
“The presence of these officials makes members of the Sikh community uncomfortable due to their agenda of undermining the autonomy of Sikh institutions and organisations. It is our obligation to ensure the safety of the Sangat, and accordingly we have arrived at this decision”, read the statement.
Furthermore, it is widely believed by the Sikh diaspora, that the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or the RSS which is considered as a fountain head of ‘pro-hindutva’ politics in the Indian sub-continent is consistently using the Indian missions in Canada to propagate its Hindutva ideology and distort the image of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Alleged torture and confinement of Scottish citizen Jagtar Singh ‘Jaggi’ by the Indian police is another factor prompting the decision besides consistent attempts by the Indian state to interfere in the internal matters of the Sikh diaspora residing in Canada.
Additionally, it is alleged that the Indian officials in Canada are used as tools by the Indian state to undermine the recognition of the Sikh genocide motion passed by the Ontario legislature. And the architects of motion often times snubbed or intimidated by using the tool of so-called ‘Black List’ and counselors visa issuing powers. And this is done by gaining access to the Gurudwara sahib on the pretext of conducting private and personal ceremonies.
Meanwhile, the president of of the Ontario Khalsa Darbar in Mississauga, better known as the Dixie gurdwara, Gurinder Singh Bal while interacting with media said that“This decision was taken unanimously. The Indian government interferes too much in the community.”