Akal Takht summons Punjab minister Harjot Singh, language department head over controversial Srinagar event
The event, organised by the Punjab government's language department, drew sharp criticism from Sikh religious bodies and sections of the community after videos showed musical performances and audience members dancing—an act many viewed as disrespectful in the context of a martyrdom centenary.
Bains, the education Minister in charge of the language department, and Jaswant Singh have been asked to appear before the Five Singh Sahiban at Akal Takht on August 1 to present their explanation. Jathedar Gargaj said the officials had failed to clarify their roles or issue an apology despite public discontent on the matter.
'It is for the first time in history that an event commemorating a Guru Sahib's martyrdom began with songs, dance, and entertainment—something entirely unacceptable,' Gargaj stated. He added that individuals holding public and constitutional office bear greater responsibility and that continued silence from state officials on such a sensitive issue was concerning.
The Jathedar also noted that singer Bir Singh, who had performed at the event and faced backlash for his involvement, appeared before Akal Takht on Thursday and offered a public apology, which will be reviewed during the upcoming meeting.
Bagicha Singh, in-charge of the Sri Akal Takht Sahib Secretariat, confirmed that summoning letters have been officially sent to both Harjot Singh and Jaswant Singh.
The event in question was held in Srinagar on July 24 as part of the Punjab government's initiative to mark Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib's 350th martyrdom anniversary. The language department had invited singer Bir Singh to perform.
However, Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), condemned the use of music and dance in an event meant to honour the Guru's sacrifice. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami called it a 'direct affront to Sikh religious values'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Satwant Kaur, Giani Harpreet emerge as contenders for SAD prez's post
Bibi Satwant Kaur and former Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh have emerged as frontrunners for the top post as the five-member committee, constituted by the Akal Takht on December 2 last year to supervise the recast of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), gears up for its delegate session. Giani Harpreet Singh While one of the group, consisting two members of Takht appointed panel, are backing Kaur, who is daughter of Amrik Singh, the other faction, led by a leader who led the SAD rebel faction who approached Akal Takht for course correction, has puts its weight behind Giani Harpreet Singh to be at the helm of the new faction of SAD. The election for the office bearers has been fixed for August 11; however, so far, a venue has not been finalised. The delegates elected from among 26 lakh members recruited by the five-member committee will elect the office bearers. 'We are trying for a consensus, and every senior leader will get a respectable role in the party matters,' Manpreet Singh Ayali said on being asked about the presidential candidate. Ayali refused to comment on his choice of the top leader and said, 'The delegates will have a final say.' Bibi Satwant Kaur was serving in a senior position in the education wing of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and comes from a panthic family. Her father, Amrik Singh, was an associate of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and was killed during Operation Bluestar. Amrik's father, Kartar Singh Bhindranwale, remained head of Damdami Taksal. She was among the seven members named by Akal Takht, which included SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, former president Kirpal Singh Badungar, Ayali, Jhundan, Gurpartap Singh Wadala and Santa Singh Umaidpur. Dhami and Badungar resigned, after which the five members started a membership drive in March. Giani Harpreet Singh, who was jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, was one of the key curators of the December 2 edict. He was later removed by SGPC but continued to support the membership drive and was also critical of the SAD leaders, including party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Wadala said that, as per feedback and sentiment in the panthic circles, Giani Harpreet is emerging as a choice for the top post. 'He is an intellectual, possesses panthic ideals. He has not compromised with principles and traditions,' Wadala said. Giani Harpreet Singh also faced criticism from the Sukhbir-led SAD, which alleged that he had a tacit understanding with the BJP.
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Akal Takht panel's delegate meet: SGPC puts ball in Takht jathedar's court
In a fix over the Takht-appointed panel's request to hold a delegate session at its headquarters, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has asked jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj to take a final call on the issue. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has asked jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj to take a final call on the issue. The Takht-appointed panel, which is to oversee the reorganisation of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), as per the mandate pronounced during the December 2 decree last year from the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs by clergy, had announced their delegate session on August 11 at Teja Singh Samundri Hall, headquarters of the gurdwara body. The five-member panel, including Iqbal Singh Jhudan, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpuri and Satwant Kaur, conducted a parallel membership drive and is now geared up to hold elections of party president and other office-bearers. However, the request has Badal-controlled SGPC in a fix. Sukhbir Singh Badal-led SAD camp, which never accepted the decree in totality, had conducted its delegate meeting on April 12 at the SGPC headquarters. SGPC dilemma stems from two factors, one, how will the Sukhbir-led camp in the gurdwara body react to giving 'rebel' leaders space and secondly, not allowing it will be viewed as a defiance to the Takht's December 2 decree. Trying to wriggle out of the situation, the SGPC chief secretary, Kulwant Singh Manan, has written a letter to Akal Takht jathedar requesting him to issue directions from the highest Sikh temporal seat in this regard. The written request of the Akal Takht panel was also forwarded to the jathedar. Sources, privy to the development, confirmed the communication sent by the SGPC. When contacted, Manan neither confirmed nor denied sending a letter to Akal Takht but said: 'The panel will get an answer in two to three days.' This matter was to be deliberated in the Sikh clergy meeting on August 1. But it was deferred to August 6 after the brother-in-law of jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj passed away. While awarding tankhah (religious punishment) to Sukhbir Singh Badal and other party leaders for the mistakes committed by the party and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017 on complaint of rebels, the Akal Takht had on December 2 last year stated that the SAD leadership had lost the moral right to give political patronage to the Sikh Panth because of their 'sins'. The Sukhbir camp had initiated its recruitment drive, citing legalities, a move termed as a violation of the Takht's decree. Akal Takht then jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh had given Takht-appointed panel nod in February to start a recruitment drive.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
In Punjab, scholars fight for unsung patriots' place in history at event dedicated to martyrdom of Shaheed Udham Singh
1 2 Patiala: Punjabi University on Saturday commemorated the martyrdom of Shaheed Udham Singh with a symposium aimed at spotlighting his legacy and urging the preservation of lesser-known freedom fighters' histories. Held under the aegis of the Shaheed Udham Singh Chair, established in the university's political science department, the event was themed 'Shaheed Udham Singh: An Embodiment of Self-Respect and Freedom'. The symposium featured keynote speaker Sukhdev Singh Sohal, a retired academic from Guru Nanak Dev University, and writer Lakhwinder Singh Johal as chief guest. Vice-chancellor Jagdeep Singh presided over the gathering, joined by faculty of social sciences dean Jaswinder Singh Brar. The VC said in his presidential address: "We are fortunate to be born in a free country, and we owe this to the sacrifices of our martyrs." He directed the institute to prepare a consolidated volume using Shaheed Udham Singh's diaries, letters, and related documents. He also extended gratitude to Paramjit Kaur Gill, chair in-charge, for leading the initiative. Sohal criticised the neglect of Shaheed Udham Singh in post-independence Sikh historiography. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo "Preserving the history of martyrs is a major responsibility of our generation," he said, stressing the need to study Shaheed Udham Singh through interdisciplinary lenses— history, philosophy, politics, literature, and culture. Echoing the concern, Lakhwinder Singh Johal noted that figures like Madan Lal Dhingra, Meva Singh Lopoke, and Udham Singh — all of whom laid down their lives in the freedom struggle — have often been overlooked in public memory. Citing the Caxton Hall assassination, he reminded attendees that Udham Singh's killing of Michael O'Dwyer — who had justified the Jallianwala Bagh massacre — was an act of historic retribution. In her welcome remarks, Gill outlined the chair's ongoing research efforts and announced plans to collect additional archival materials relating to Udham Singh's life and legacy. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from dean Brar.
