Akal Takht jathedar reads out ‘sandesh’ amid protests
Protesters raise slogans in favour of Jagtar Singh Hawara; jathedar says Sikh population decreasing in Punjab due to exodus
AMRITSAR: Acting Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Wednesday faced protests while he was reading out his first ‘sandesh’ (message) at the Golden Temple on Diwali, which the Sikhs observe as ‘Bandi Chhod Diwas’.
As per the tradition, the jathedar of the highest temporal seat of Sikhs addresses the community on Bandi Chhod Diwas from Darshani Deodi — the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum.
As soon as the jathedar started reading out the ‘sandesh’, a group of devotees, including Nihangs and women, stood up and started raising slogans in favour of Jagtar Singh Hawara, one of convicts in former chief minister Beant Singh assassination case.
Hawara was named as jathedar of Akal Takht at radicals’ ‘Sarbat Khalsa’.
The protesters also distributed ‘sandesh’ by Sarbat Khalsaappointee acting parallel jatehdar Dhian Singh Mand from Bargari village in Faridkot where he is leading a dharna over the sacrilege issue. They also displayed a banner supporting the Bargari dharna.
Soon, a small group led by Jarnail Singh Sakhira displayed a black cloth as a mark of protest and the sloganeering continued for over 10 minutes. They also raised slogans against Badals, accusing them of a role in the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.
On Tuesday, the hardliners had announced to lodge their protest against the appointment of Giani Harpreet Singh as the acting jathedar.
Notably, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Punjab Police did not allow most of the hardliners inside the shrine, some managed to sneak in as ordinary devotees.
‘NO OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTHS IN STATE’
In his ‘sandesh’, Giani Harpreet Singh said population of Sikhs is decreasing in Punjab which is a matter of concern for the community.
“There are no arrangements of education for the talented Sikh youth. Nor they have ample opportunities for employment. This has made the Sikh youths to migrate to foreign countries and the Sikh population in India, especially in Punjab, is decreasing,” he said.
Also expressing concern over difference of opinions among Sikhs on the social media, he said, “While expressing their
views, Sikhs are using objectionable language against each other. This kind of language hits the Sikh ethos. This seems a deep-rooted conspiracy by antiSikh people and the community should be conscious of this.”
‘SACRILEGE INCIDENTS CONTINUE’
He said incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib are continuing. “Apart from this, demand for releasing Sikh prisoners who have completed their jail terms has not been met. Wounds of 1984 are still there. This has made the Sikh feel alienated in the country. Even legal system and judiciary could not deliver to the Sikhs,” he said.