Amritsar: Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh congratulated the Sikh community on Bandi Chhor Diwas and gave the message to fight the challenges facing the Sikhs with unity.
In a press statement issued here today, said the so-called pastors are spreading pakhandwad (exorcism) in the guise of Christianity on the land of Punjab, and are converting and exploiting innocent Sikhs physically, economically, and mentally and the government’s silence on this matter is a serious concern.
Giani Harpreet Singh also underlined the need to work together for the release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh political prisoners) and said that to open closed ears of the Indian government, the non-resident Indian (NRI) Sikhs should hold protests besides making efforts for the release of Bandi Singh through their governments.
He asked all the Panthic sides to work together for strengthening Sikh organisations against the government’s attempt to weaken the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). He said that the religious, educational, and humanitarian activities of SGPC are strengthening the society and efforts are necessary to make them more substantial.
Jathedar, Akal Takht Sahib said that for Panthic unity, only political unity is not important but all sides of Panth should start constructive work/projects to take the Sikh community forward with a minimal work plan.
He questioned the misuse of social media and said that if it is not used to defame each other, then only good work can be possible.
He said the governments failed to stop the deadly attack of drugs on society and therefore, there is a need to form village-level committees to solve this problem of failure of governments to stop the use of drugs and break the drug trade’s organizational structure. “It is a matter of serious concern that the Centre and Punjab governments have not succeeded in stopping trade and use of drugs despite using all of their means and power”, said Giani Harpreet Singh.
Expressing concern about the low interest in reading among Sikh children, he said that Panthic institutions should encourage children so that they succeed in competitive examinations and join the administrative, armed force, foreign, and other high services in the country and abroad, to be the honour of the community. He also asked to fulfill Panthhic responsibility by helping needy children for their higher education.
