Amritsar, October 27- Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today appealed to the Jathedar of Akal Takth Sahib (highest Sikh temporal seat) as well as heads of Panthic organizations to guide the SAD in protecting panthic institutions, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Pabandhak Committee (SGPC) from the onslaught of nefarious elements who were bent on dividing the Sikh community.
Addressing the sangat (gathering of Sikh devotees) at Diwan Hall in the Sri Darbar Sahib complex (Golden Temple) on the centenary of Saka Panja Sahib, the SAD president also appealed to the Sikh community to unite and identify the anti-panthic forces weakening the Panth and its institutions. “We should together act as a buttress against such divisive forces in order to give them a befitting response”.
Asserting that the SAD and the SGPC were not anybody’s property, Sukhbir Badal said both were democratic bodies whose heads were elected to office. He said it was unfortunate that the centre as well as its agencies were trying to weaken both institutions by misusing members of the community. He said it was because of these agencies that the DSGMC had been overtaken by anti-panthic forces and now even the Haryana Committee was threatened.
Describing these activities as an attack on the Sikh community, Badal said “these forces want to sub divide the community and its institutions into small groups to erode the strength of the Panth”. Appealing to the gathering to foil these nefarious designs, the SAD President said the Sikh community was known for ‘Simran, Sewa & Sacrifice’. He said this was epitomized by the brave hearts who had put the tenets of Sikhism above self & laid down their lives to serve langar to the prisoners of Guru Ka Bagh Morcha. “This sentiment was also responsible for the freeing of gurdwaras from the control of Mahants and the formation of the SGPC and the SAD as well as the long tradition of sacrifice of the Sikh community”.
Later while talking to media, Badal said “There is no envelope culture in electing the president of the SGPC as is being claimed by opponents”. He said there could not be any envelope culture when the elections were held to the SGPC in a democratic manner with the full participation of members. Replying to another question, he said he had the utmost respect for former SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur.
Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh appealed to the Sikh community and the SAD leadership to strengthen the SGPC and the SAD, saying the two institutions were the true representatives of the Sikh community. He urged the Sangat to imbibe Sikh principles and suggested that training camps should be held to prepare SAD workers to fight against anti-panthic forces. He also asserted that the Khalsa Diwan, Takht boards and other institutions should be freed from the clutches of individuals and that they should be used to strengthen the Sikh community.
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami announced two programmes on behalf of the SGPC. He said the organization would collect signatures urging for the release of Bandi Singhs from the Sikh community and people of Punjab and submit them in trucks to the Governor. He also announced that an Ardas Divas would be organized at the district level to focus on the need to ensure a separate committee was not formed to manage gurdwaras of Haryana.
Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra congratulated the SGPC for organizing the event to pay tribute to brave Sikhs of Saka Panja Sahib. He also appreciated the efforts and actions of SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami. He also appealed to the Sikh community to follow the directions of Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib.
Senior leaders including Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Hira Singh Gabria, Gobind Singh Longowal, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema ,Gurcharan Singh Grewal, Amarjit Singh Chawla, Jarnail Singh Dograwala and Virsa Singh Valtoha were also present on the occasion.
