
Punjab: Collective responsibility to promote Sikh history, don't create divisions: Sandhwan to Dhami
Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Friday emphasised the importance of collective efforts in celebrating Sikh history and centenaries, urging SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami to not approach these events through a political lens.
Responding to Dhami's recent remarks on the state government's initiatives in this regard, Sandhwan reiterated that these celebrations are not about political parties but about honouring the unparalleled legacy of Sikhism.
'The Sikh community's history of sacrifice, selflessness, and universal goodwill belongs to all of humanity. It is our collective responsibility to share this legacy with the world. This is not about any political party; it is about Sikhism,' he said in a statement.
The state government has announced its plans to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur and the 450th foundation day of Amritsar with events designed to highlight Sikh teachings and values on a global stage.
In response to Dhami's concerns over the government's involvement in celebrating centenaries, Sandhwan stated that this is not the first time such initiatives have been undertaken, citing instances of previous governments observing centenary events. Addressing Dhami, Sandhwan remarked, 'You are the President of the SGPC, a representative body of the Sikh Panth, not a political leader of a certain party. Your role is to uphold the sanctity and heritage of Sikhism, not to create divisions.'

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There's been going to be a reset by Prime Minister Modi graciously accepting the invitation and going there. I think it's going to be a new beginning for Canada in the in the relationship,' he said. When asked about his views on the coming future of India-Canada relations as the ties were strained, as Trudeau-led administration gave a free run to such anti-India sentiments, Jesse said that this government will stop supporting Khalistani elements. He added that the Khalistanis carried out human trafficking and as the support for them ceased now, this will have a huge impact on the immigrations in North America. 'With US President Donald Trump coming, all this has stopped and there are going to be investigations going on. [They will be] investigating all these false immigration cases and these all illegal immigration, and I would call it human trafficking, and those things are being stopped in North America now, and I think it's going to have a big influence on Canadian immigration too that all these, you know, human trafficking which was later manipulated and used for the Khalistani movement, is going to stop,' he said. Jesse said that these rogue elements running in the name of Khalistan, manipulate youth that come in through the illegal dunki route and give them the false promise of political asylum. 'I think these rogue elements, who under the name of Khalistan movement, have been doing all kinds of illegal trade here. We have seen them involved in human trafficking, when all these youths who were coming to these foreign nations under the dunki route, they were being victimised and then manipulated by the so-called Khalistani leaders such as Gurparwant Singh Pannu, and they were then used for the referendum and other things, giving them false promises that will get you political asylum and all these kind of things,' he said. Jesse further said that he condemned all kinds of violence. He said that there is nothing wrong with peaceful protests, but their acts of vandalism, especially in Hindu temples- places of worship, were wrong. '...Attacking a place of worship is against Sikh principles and that's why I don't call these Khalistanis as Sikhs because they're working against the Sikh have always been there for India and Hindus are our brothers and we value and respect all Indian community has to stay united. We don't have to get divisive here and Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians - all Indians living outside India should stay united and not become a victim to these dividing tactics...,' he said. As per the Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Canada to participate in the G-7 Summit in Kananaskis from June 16-17. (ANI)


India Gazette
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