Dance, music at Punjab government's Guru Tegh Bahadur event, top Sikh body fumes
"Sikh martyrdom anniversaries are solemn, spiritual occasions that must align strictly with Sikh traditions—marked by Shabad Kirtan, Gurbani recitation, Gurmat Vichar, and sewa—not entertainment," Dhami stated.He further slammed the Bhagwant Mann government for organising religious commemorations without consulting Sikh institutions, stressing that such events should be led by bodies like the SGPC (the highest authority for Sikh religious affairs), which understand the religious and cultural sensitivities involved."The incident reinforces why the SGPC opposes government-led religious events," he said, demanding a public apology from the state government and urging that future events strictly follow Sikh norms.Dhami emphasised that Sikh Gurpurbs and commemorative occasions are spiritual in nature and not meant for casual celebration."They include holy activities such as Shabad Kirtan, Gurmat Vichar, Gurbani recitation, community service and sewa. Activities such as dancing and singing performances are not only violations of Sikh principles but also disrespectful to the martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur," he said.This marks the second time in a week that the SGPC has objected to a Punjab Government initiative. Earlier, it raised concerns over the upcoming November celebrations of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's martyrdom, which include a government-organised yatra from Srinagar.On Monday, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced the event would be held from November 19 to 25, with a yatra to be flagged off by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The SGPC has opposed the plan, citing lack of coordination and government interference in Sikh religious affairs.- Ends
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Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Sikh woman barred from exam over kirpan, Takht, SGPC fume
(Blurb) It's violation of Constitution, say Akal Takht, SGPC and SAD A Sikh woman candidate was reportedly not allowed to enter an examination hall in Rajasthan's Jaipur as she was allegedly asked to remove her religious articles, including a kirpan. The candidate, Gurpreet Kaur, a resident of Pheloke village in Tarn Taran district, had to appear in the Rajasthan Judicial Services examination. The episode has drawn condemnation from the Akal Takht, the SGPC and the SAD. The Akal Takht secretariat issued a video of Gurpreet Kaur in which she is seen protesting over being denied entry to the examination hall. She was seen asking the authorities to show the instructions regarding ban on the kakars (five articles of Sikh faith). In a statement, Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj termed the incident a grave violation of the Constitution and an act of discrimination. Questioning the BJP-led Rajasthan government, he said Amritdhari Sikhs wear kirpan as a mandatory article of faith. 'Similar instances occurred during the same recruitment process last year in Jaipur and Jodhpur. Despite a written communication from the SGPC and other Sikh bodies to the state government, the same episode has been repeated,' he mentioned. He referred to Article 25 (Explanation I) of the Constitution that affirms the right of Sikhs to wear the kirpan. 'While the country is commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadar who sacrificed his life for religious freedom and human rights, the Sikh symbols are simultaneously being questioned,' Giani Gargaj pointed out. He directed the Shiromani Akali Dal and the SGPC to immediately form a high-level joint delegation to meet with the Prime Minister, home minister, Rajasthan chief minister and the registrar of the Rajasthan high court to register a strong protest and ensure a permanent resolution. If necessary, he added, the SGPC should consider filing a petition in the Rajasthan high court. An official of Akal Takht secretariat also shared details of the case with the ex-chairman of the National Commission for Minorities and senior BJP leader Iqbal Singh Lalpura. 'Lalpura, as a Sikh, has a primary duty of talking to the BJP leadership to ensure that no Sikh faces such discrimination in any part of the country. Lalpura shall hold meetings with the Prime Minister and the home minister and submit a detailed report of the efforts made for a permanent resolution to Sri Akal Takht Sahib,' the Akal Takht secretariat stated. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said strict action must be taken against the officials at the exam centre. He recalled that a similar incident had taken place in Rajasthan with some Sikh candidates last year. At that time, an SGPC delegation had met with the administration there and urged them to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future. Terming the Jaipur episode as a 'discrimination', Dhami said an SGPC delegation would soon be sent to meet with the Rajasthan government to demand strict action against the responsible individuals. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal sought the Prime Minister's intervention to ensure such events do not recur. 'It is shocking that rules, if any, are framed by lower authorities flouting the Constitution. The central government should issue or, if necessary, re-issue clear cut guidelines to all states and union territories about the exemption to the inseparable articles of faith,' said Badal in his letter to the PM. Sukhbir Badal also urged the Rajasthan high court to provide Gurpreet Kaur a special opportunity to appear for the RJS examination. He also asked Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal to take strict action against the responsible officials. AAP MLA seeks special chance for candidate AAP MLA Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, who also heads the Chief Khalsa Diwan, said every individual has the right to live according to their religion and wear religious symbols. 'The incident is a direct violation of religious and constitutional rights,' he said. Seeking a chance for the student to reappear under special arrangements, he appealed to the central government to ensure that Sikh students are allowed to appear in examinations while wearing their religious symbols.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Rift widens, Sukhbir faction turns down rebels' invite for party polls
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He questioned the legitimacy of the five-member committee, which claimed to have inducted 26 lakh new members, given the resignation of two key figures. Cheema flayed the rebel faction for their attempts to seek participation in the election process, stating that those sending invitations to join had never been members of the party. 'The members they inducted have no meaning, as the party they joined doesn't exist anymore,' Cheema said. He further clarified that the membership drive, which had been a point of contention, was conducted with permission from the Akal Takht, and followed procedures set by the Sikh temporal seat. The tension began to escalate in June last year when a group of party leaders, dissatisfied with Sukhbir's leadership, launched the 'Akali Dal Bachao Lehar' and demanded his removal as party president. The rebel faction, which included Gurpartap Singh Wadala, convener of the Sudhar Leher, Sikandar Singh Maluka, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Jagir Kaur, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Kiranjot Kaur, Manjit Singh, Surinder Bhullewal, Charanjit Singh Brar, Harinder Pal Tohra and Gaganjit Singh Barnala, has been critical of Sukhbir's role during his tenure as deputy chief minister in the SAD-BJP coalition government from 2007 to 2017. They also sought an apology from Sukhbir for alleged mistakes committed by his government. On December 2, 2024, the Akal Takht imposed a 'tankha' (religious punishment) on Sukhbir and other SAD leaders for their actions during the previous SAD-led government. This move came after a complaint filed by the rebel faction, accusing Sukhbir of damaging Sikh interests and the party's reputation. The Akal Takht also called for his resignation and directed the formation of a new seven-member committee to carry out a membership drive and elect new office-bearers within six months. The five Sikh high priests also directed both factions to bury the hatchet and forge unity for Panth's cause. Following this, the rebel leaders on December 3 last year announced to dissolve their group and discontinue the 'Sudhar Lehar'. The Akal Takht-appointed committee faced challenges when its coordinator, Harjinder Singh Dhami, and another key member, Kirpal Singh Badungar, resigned, leaving the group with only five members. Despite this, the Sukhbir faction continued its own recruitment drive, asserting its legal position. On April 12, Sukhbir was re-elected as the party's president. The SAD's electoral graph has been falling since 2017. In the 2022 state assembly elections, the party could win only three seats and in recently held Lok Sabha polls, the party won only one seat (Bathinda) and its candidates lost deposits on 10 seats. 'Never pushed for an alliance with BJP' Reacting to the recent remarks by newly appointed BJP's Punjab working president Ashwani Sharma who ruled out any alliance with the SAD, Daljit Singh Cheema said the Akali Dal never pushed for an alliance with the BJP. He pointed out that the party contested the 2022 Punjab assembly polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls solo. Sharma's statement came in the backdrop of Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar making a strong pitch for re-stitching the alliance with the Akali Dal, claiming it to be the need of the hour. 'We have never pushed for an alliance with the BJP nor have we spoken in public forums. In case there are speculations from certain quarters, we cannot help,' said Cheema. The party had cut ties of 24 years with the BJP in 2020 feeling the pressure from the state peasantry, which was protesting against the three farm laws. BJP's political fortunes are on a downward slide as it went solo in the 2022 state and 2024 Lok Sabha polls but failed to make a significant mark. While the SAD faced a drubbing in the assembly polls, winning just three seats, the BJP won two. In parliamentary polls, the SAD could only win the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, while the BJP failed to open its account. 'We are not in hurry of a re-alliance with the BJP,' said another leader, adding that party leaders are working hard and the party would witness a turnaround..
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Those who are impure can't visit mosque': Muslim body writes to Delhi CM Rekha Gupta after SP Parliament meet; seeks imam's Nadvi removal
NEW DELHI: The president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, has written to Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta demanding the removal of Maulana Mohibbullah Nadvi from his position as imam of a mosque in the national capital. His demand comes days after a Samajwadi Party (SP) meeting was allegedly held inside the mosque, where Nadvi serves as imam and is also the SP Member of Parliament from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. In his letter, Barelvi said: "By holding a meeting of Samajwadi Party inside the mosque, the sanctity of the mosque has been violated, and the religious faith of the Muslims has been hurt." "No other work can be done inside the mosque except offering prayers to the God," he added. According to Barelvi, the SP meeting was attended by party chief Akhilesh Yadav , his wife and MP Dimple Yadav, MPs Dharmendra Yadav, Ziaur Rahman Barq, and other leaders. "Impure people cannot come inside the mosque. Only those people can come to the mosque who are pure," he wrote. He also pointed out that two women participated in the meeting, despite entry being "prohibited inside the mosque. "A religious place like a mosque was used for politics. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Through this meeting a political message was given that the Samajwadi Party is sympathetic to Muslims," Barelvi added. "Therefore, I demand from you that the Imam of the mosque, Maulana Mohibbullah Nadvi, should be removed from the 'Imamat', and a person with Sufi ideology should be made the Imam who is not political," he concluded. Meanwhile, the BJP's minority morcha has also taken issue with Nadvi's dual role as imam and MP. Its president, Jamal Siddiqui, has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking Nadvi's disqualification from Parliament on the grounds that he allegedly holds an "office of profit" by drawing a salary from the Waqf Board. Under Article 102(1)(a) of the Constitution, Siddiqui claimed, Nadvi's position could be considered an office of profit "because it is financed by a statutory body under the Delhi government." Siddiqui also wrote to Delhi CM Gupta demanding Nadvi's immediate removal, accusing him of "using the mosque as his personal property." "On July 22, 2025, Mohibbullah Nadvi, along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, his wife, Dharmendra Yadav and other MPs, party workers, held a party meeting at the mosque where Namaz is offered and also had tea and snacks, which is against the Islamic model code of conduct," Siddiqui stated. He further alleged: "Nadvi also took SP MP Dimple Yadav to the mosque, even though the entry of women is prohibited there." "There is a place on the first floor of (the mosque) for women to sit. It is worth noting that Dimple Yadav's dress was also against the rules of the mosque," he claimed. "Mohibbullah Nadvi is using this mosque as his personal property and is promoting Samajwadi Party there, which cannot be done as an Imam," Siddiqui said.
