No court or govt authority has right to define a Sikh: Akal Takht
Jathedar says will prepare future course of action in consultation with SGPC if nothing done in 6 weeks; thanks Beant killing convict for ending hunger strike
ASKS SGPC TO TAKE LEGAL STEPS TO COUNTER UT ORDER
AMRITSAR: Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat, on Monday opposed the Chandigarh administration’s July 6 notification making it mandatory for all non-turbaned Sikh women to wear helmets while driving twowheelers or riding pillion.
“No court or any government authority had the right to define a Sikh,” said the Akal Takht while passing a resolution saying the notification violates the Sikh code of conduct.
The notification, being opposed by many Sikh groups, exempts turbaned Sikh woman from wearing a helmet. The Istri Akali Dal (SAD women wing) headed by Bibi Jagir Kaur had urged the Akal Takht to intervene in the matter after the notification. In Punjab and Haryana, all Sikh women can ride twowheelers without helmets.
“A woman whose surname is Kaur and she does not trim her hair is considered as Sikh as per Sikh rehat maryada (code of conduct). Wearing a turban is not mandatory for her. It depends on her choice. However, on this ground, the helmet cannot be made mandatory for her,’’ said Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh in reference to the resolution in this regard.
“A Sikh woman is a Sikh even she does not wear a turban. And wearing a helmet or any other kind of top or cap is a violation of Sikh tenets and the Sikhs cannot be forced to wear helmets,” he added. He said the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which manages Sikh shrines, was asked to take legal measures to counter the notification. Sikh groups have cited Sikh rehatnamas (old version of the code of ethics) to oppose the wearing of helmets.
AMRITSAR : The Akal Takht on Monday said it will chalk out a concrete plan if the Centre fails to take decision on the mercy plea for Balwant Singh Rajoana, the death row convict in the Beant Singh assassination case, within one-and-a-half months.
The petition for commuting Rajoana’s death penalty to life imprisonment was moved by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in 2012 before the President.
“Rajnath Singh (Union home minister) has assured an SGPCAkali Dal delegation to resolve the issue soon. The SGPC chief has given the home minister one-and-a-half months time. If the government fails to take any decision in time, a concrete plan will be chalked out in consultation with the SGPC chief and action will be taken accordingly,” said Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh.
After chairing a meeting of Panj Singh Sahiban (five Sikh clergymen) at the secretariat of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, Giani Gurbachan Singh thanked Rajoana for ending his hunger strike.
Takht Patna Sahib jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh, Takht Kesgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and Akal Takht head granthi Giani Malkit Singh were also present in the meeting held over issues concerning the community.
WHAT RAJOANA SAYS
Interestingly, Rajoana recently wrote to the Patiala jail superintendent that the SGPC had filed the petition without taking his consent.
Demanding that either the Centre should take a decision on
the petition or SGPC withdraw it, Rajoana on July 16 had gone on an indefinite hunger strike in the Patiala jail. Two days later, a SAD-SGPC delegation met Rajnath Singh. After SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal briefed Rajoana about that meeting, he ended the hunger strike on Saturday.
GURDWARA PANELS IN RAJASTHAN DISSOLVED
The Sikh clergy also resolved to dissolve the two committees laying claims on the management of Gurdwara Shaheed Nagar at Budha Johar in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district.
“Both the committees indulged in a tussle over petty
issues and created their own constitutions. Besides dissolving the committees and rejecting the constitution, the management has been handed over to new nine-member panel to run the gurdwara affairs till the new constitution is not framed with the approval of the Akal Takht,” said the jathedar.