Punjab CM should apologize for his comments on Jathedar Akal Takht
Amritsar, March 29 -The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami has strongly condemned the withholding of Twitter posts of Jathedar, Akal Takht Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh and the SGPC in India and asked the governments to stay within regulations.
Dhami said that the Sikhs are being vilified and character assassinated on social media and it is sad that the governments are suppressing the voice being raised by the Sikh community against this phenomenon.
He said that yesterday a Twitter post of the SGPC was withheld in India on the legal demand of the Government of India and today a tweet of Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib has been withheld in India in the same manner. He said that the Centre and state governments should immediately stop this game played by them together.
SGPC President said that in the recent past, the SGPC had identified social media handles of some mischievous people who were caught running organized vile, vicious, hateful, and false propaganda against Sikhs, SGPC, and the Sikh code of conduct laid by Sri Akal Takht Sahib. He said the evidence of hateful propaganda on social media by some handles was brought publicly to the knowledge of the Punjab Police and the state government on Twitter by SGPC, but no action was taken against them. In place of acting against the false propagandists, the governments withheld the tweet of SGPC, in which, the objectionable content was reported to state police and the government publicly.
SGPC President said Sri Akal Takht Sahib is the highest temporal authority of Sikhs, and whenever its Jathedar gives a call to the community, it congregates accordingly. But by withholding the tweet of Jathedar related to the meeting convened by him on March 27 with regards to the current atmosphere in Punjab, the governments have exposed themselves that they are suppressing the voice of Sikhs in India and have even not left Jathedar out of its ambit.
Dhami also criticized Punjab chief minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann’s comment on Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib through a tweet.
“Bhagwant Singh Maan’s comment on Jathedar Sahib is a direct challenge to the dignity of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the Sikh community. He should immediately apologize to the Sikh community for this disregard”, said Dhami.
SGPC President said that Sri Akal Takht Sahib is always immutable while the governments keep coming and going.
“The chief minister should not forget that Sri Akal Takht Sahib is not the name of a building, but it is the true Takht (throne) established by Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib, the sixth Sikh Guru, in the light of a principle and thought. The Mughals, the British, and the governments of the time tried to bend it, but had to give up in front of this principle blessed by the Guru. Today’s governments are also making such a big mistake”, said Dhami.
SGPC President said that the Sikh community congregates at Sri Akal Takht Sahib to discuss any Qaumi (community’s) issue. He said the tactics being adopted by the governments against this Panthic tradition cannot be tolerated.
It may be mentioned here that earlier Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday had hit out at Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh for “provoking” people through an ultimatum to the AAP government to release all Sikh youths in a police action against radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his aides.
