Amritsar/ Chandigarh: Whereas the Indian government marked June 21 as “International Yoga Day” to promote “Yoga”, the Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (Mann) held parellel Sikh martial art Gatka Day. SAD (Mann) chief Simranjeet Singh Mann said that promotion of Yoga was part of Hindutva fountainhead Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS)’s agenda to enforce ‘Hindutva culture’ on other nationalities and cultural, linguistic and ethnic identities in the subcontinent.
Simranjeet Singh Mann said that Sikh martial art Gatka was an ‘active sport’ and Sikhs should practise Gatka instead of Yoga.
Activists of SAD (Mann) held Gatka sessions at various places in Punjab. S. Mann urged Sikhs to mark June 21 as “International Gatka Day” annually.