Minority panel for dialogue between Sikhs and Christians
AMRITSAR : The National Commission for Minorities on Thursday called for a dialogue between the Sikh and Christian communities to reach an amicable solution on the issue of alleged conversion of Sikhs to Christianity in Punjab, days after Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh asked for countering the trend.
A meeting of the representatives of the two communities was held at the minority commission’s office in New Delhi. A high-level delegation of SGPC, comprising its general secretary Karnail Singh Panjoli, executive committee member Sarwan Singh Kular, member Gurcharan Singh Grewal, Satwinder Singh Tohra and secretary (dharam parchar) Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, represented the Sikh community in the meeting chaired by Chairman of the commission Iqbal Singh Lalpura. “Representatives of both the communities welcomed the initiative taken by the commission to start a dialogue between both the communities,” a spokesperson of the commission said.
“After detailed deliberations, it was concluded that both sides appreciated that platform for dialogue on a sensitive matter and a need to continue the dialogue,” he said.
Sikh representatives were of the view that this festering problem should not be neglected. On their part, representatives of the Christian community reiterated that they are totally against any forcible conversion through fraudulent means or false promises of miraculous healing, cash incentives etc. and they condone such acts, the spokesperson said.
Panjoli said this issue is extremely sensitive and Jathedar of Akal Takht also expressed concern over the same.
The SGPC delegation also raised other issues concerning the community with the chairman of the minority commission, including independent status to Sikhism by amending Section 25 (B) of the Constitution of India; handing over management of Gurdwara Gian Godri Sahib, Haridwar, Gurdwara Dangmar Sahib in Sikkim and Gurdwara Mangu Matt in Odisha to Sikhs; release of Sikh political prisoners; among others.