Akal Takht jathedar calls for Damdami Taksal unity to address religious conversions in Punjab
Akal Takht
officiating jathedar
Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj
, struggling to receive unanimous support across all sections of the panth due to the circumstances of his appointment, has appealed for unity among the three factions of the
Damdami Taksal
to help address religious conversions in Punjab.
During his visit to the Gurdaspur region, Jathedar Gargaj expressed concern over the rising incidents of religious conversions, claiming he made stops at villages every 10km and witnessed large gatherings that highlighted the seriousness of the issue.
Emphasising the need for unity, he said that the Panth should come together on the matter. He appealed to the Damdami Taksal factions led by Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma (Chowk Mehta), Bhai Ram Singh (Sangrawan), and Bhai Amrik Singh (Ajnala), along with other Sikh sampardayas, to unite in addressing and countering the growing challenge of conversions.
Bhai Amrik Singh, chief, Damdami Taksal (Ajnala), said that unity is easier said than achieved, asserting that Jathedar Gargaj might not be fully aware of the reasons behind the split of the Taksal into three factions. He suggested that a deeper understanding of the circumstances leading to the division should precede such a call for unity.
Regarding the issue of conversions, Bhai Amrik Singh said the Ajnala faction of the Damdami Taksal continues to actively organise "Amrit Sanchar" programmes as part of its efforts to strengthen Sikh values and identity.
On the other hand, Avtar Singh Bhuttar, a close associate of Dhumma, said the Damdami Taksal (Chowk Mehta) has been actively engaged in preaching Sikhism and countering religious conversions. In addition to organising regular "Amrit Sanchar" ceremonies, he said the Taksal also launches month-long campaigns dedicated to the propagation of Sikh teachings. He further said that a special "Amrit Sanchar" initiative will be held from May 1 to 31, specifically aimed at addressing conversions. Rajandeep Singh, spokesperson of Damdami Taksal (Sangrawan), could not be contacted for his comments.
MSID:: 120484344 413 |
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Akal Takht-panel may not get nod to hold session at SGPC HQ
The Akal Takht–appointed panel, mandated to recast the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), may not get the nod to hold a delegate session to hold party elections on August 11 at Teja Singh Samundri Hall, the headquarters of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj at the Akal Takht in Amritsar on Wednesday. (ANI) This comes after a meeting of Sikh clergy held under Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj. In the decree issued on Wednesday, Giani Gargaj said that no group or committee can claim to be patronised by Akal Takht. 'The Akal Takht has received complaints from different Singh Sabhas, Sikh political parties and religious organisations that 'some groups are trying to gain political mileage by claiming to be patronised by Akal Takht Sahib. In the December 2 edict, the Sikh clergy directed all the Akali factions to bury hatchets and unite, but nothing has happened so far. If no group wants to comply with the December 2 decree, then so be it. However, they should not create confusion among the sangat by claiming to be patronised by Akal Takht. Aspiration behind the December 2 edict cannot be fulfilled by keeping factionalism intact,' the decree reads. In separate development, people privy to matter said that in a letter to SGPC, the Akal Takht hinted that the 'five-member panel's work holds no legitimacy.' The letter's content has not been made public yet. The sources in the know of things said that the letter says that the panel is not complete as the Takht had appointed a seven-member committee, not five, 'thus it cannot work and holds no legitimacy'. The December 2 decree had appointed a seven-member panel including SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, former president Kirpal Singh Badungar, Bibi Satwant Kaur, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Iqbal Singh Jhundan, Gurpartap Singh Wadala and Santa Singh Umaidpur. Dhami and Badungar had resigned, after which the five members started a membership drive in March this year. Furthermore, the letter asks SGPC to make arrangements for the venue if any Sikh institution or organisation raises a demand for conducting any gathering, leaving out words like 'committee' or 'panel'. 'This implies that the Takht panel is not likely to get a nod for organising the election at Teja Singh Samundri Hall, a historic venue for Sikh gatherings. The SGPC may allot it some other venue,' the sources within the gurdwara body said. The fresh edict hasn't gone down well with the different segments of the Sikh political class. A leader of the Akali Dal Sudhar Lehal, and SGPC member Kiranjot Kaur took to Facebook and said, 'Debating over hukamnamas is not in accordance with Panthic maryada (tradition). But then again, creating an 'Office of Akal Takht' and issuing vague decisions is also not Panthic maryada. Giani Kuldeep Singh Ghargaj should clarify whether he accepts the hukamnama dated 2nd December 2024 or not'. Parampal Singh, a leader of the Alliance of Sikh Organisations, said: 'Why did the jathedar not remember the unity when Sukhbir Singh Badal was being elected? Why did he present him with a siropa (robe of honour) after his election as president? What happened today is unfair.'
Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Bathinda varsity to document Partition sufferings
The Central University of Punjab (CUP) has announced plans to start a 'centre for partition and atrocities studies' to document memoirs of individuals who witnessed the Partition. Vice chancellor Prof Raghavendra P Tiwari on Wednesday said the university has already recorded the personal accounts of 10 such persons and more senior citizens will be interviewed on Independence Day. The Central University of Punjab will roll out five new academic departments. 'The population of undivided Punjab experienced the pain of Partition. Individuals who were witnesses to the division of 1947 are at an advanced age and society is running short of time to meet all those and record their accounts. Documentation of such experiences is required for future generations for the dark phase of modern history,' said Tiwari. He said the centre, which will offer a PhD on Partition, is a part of the academic expansion programme approved by the Union government, where CUP will have five new departments and two research centres. The CUP is also rolling out 'Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Centre of Studies in Indic Civilisation and Religious Studies' to commemorate the 350th death anniversary of the ninth Sikh master. The VC said that the university would offer courses in MA and PhD under the centre. The Union ministry of education has accorded approval to the CUP to open departments of artificial intelligence and machine learning, community medicine and health, hospitality and tourism management, biotechnology and bioinformatics and public policy and governance. These new entities would facilitate the launch of integrated, postgraduate and doctoral programmes from the next academic session, as the university will start hiring faculty members. The VC said the Centre has also accorded approval for 44 faculty posts for the academic departments, including the new ones which have been added after a gap of seven years.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Min Harjot told to repair roads to atone for event in Srinagar
Amritsar: The Akal Takht has pronounced 'tankhah' (religious punishment) on cabinet minister Harjot Singh Bains over the song and dance at what was supposed to be a solemn tribute in Srinagar to Guru Tegh Bahadur last month. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now For the first time, through a resolution, road repair and infrastructure development have been included as part of the penance, not only for Harjot but also state govt. While Harjot has been ordered to atone in his personal capacity by walking to gurdwaras associated with the Ninth Guru and repairing the roads that lead to them, the Punjab govt has been told to initiate development work around these shrines. On July 26, two days after the Srinagar event, Akal Takht had summoned the Punjab minister to appear before Sikh high priests on Aug 6 and explain why a tribute to the martyrdom of a Guru began with music and entertainment. Harjot, who had attended the event, presented himself before the Sikh clergy on Wednesday and accepted his mistake. Pronouncing the religious punishment on Harjot from the rostrum of Akal Takht, the Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, ordered him to walk to the birthplace of the Ninth Guru, Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, in Amritsar, and Gurdwara Kotha Sahib Patshahi Nauvin, Valla, Sri Amritsar, and ensure the repair of roads and streets leading to the sites and cleanliness of these areas. At Gurdwara Patshahi Nauvin, Baba Bakala Sahib, he is to ensure proper arrangements and maintenance of the roads and infrastructure. The Sikh high priests also directed Harjot to go to Gurdwara Sri Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi, the site of Guru Tegh Bahadur's execution, and pray there. After that, he is to visit Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib and perform 'sewa' by cleaning shoes for two days at Joda Ghar, offer a deg of karah prasad worth 1,100 and perform an ardas (prayer). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Jaswant Singh, director of Bhasha Vibhag Punjab (language department), Punjab), who was also associated with the event, is currently abroad to attend the wedding of a close relative and will be summoned before the clergy at a later date. Wednesday's meeting over Harjot was presided over by Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht and Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, and attended by Giani Sultan Singh and Giani Kewal Singh, Granthis of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple), Bhai Tek Singh, Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, and Giani Mangal Singh, Panj Piara of Akal Takht. The Srinagar event was organised jointly by Punjab govt, Bhasha Vibhag and other institutions to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Teg Bahadar, Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, and Bhai Dyala. Videos of the event showed Bir Singh singing cultural songs while many people danced. Seminars, Not Songs The Sikh clergy said the song and dance at such a solemn occasion deeply hurt Sikh sentiments. Following complaints received from the global Sikh Sangat against minister Harjot Singh, director of Bhasha Vibhag Punjab Jaswant Singh, and singer Bir Singh, the five Sikh high priests directed that future govt programs should focus on seminars, discussions, and lectures aligned with Sikh values, and there should be no violation of Sikh 'Maryada' (code of conduct). It was clarified that the Sikh community is capable of organising Gurmat Samagams (religious congregations) and Nagar Kirtans (religious processions), and the govt must not organise such events. Through the resolution, the Sikh high priests said that the Dharam Prachar Committee of SGPC should be involved in organising such events, and govts must support Panthic organisations like SGPC in hosting events at historic Sikh sites. The Sikh clergy, through the resolution, instructed Punjab govt to improve roads and facilities around gurdwaras associated with the ninth Sikh Guru, and consider establishing new public welfare institutions in his memory.
