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Indian Express

‘They are spreading hatred': Damdami Taksal criticises pro-Khalistan groups in Canada ahead of G7 Summit

In a rare public statement, Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal Monday openly criticised pro-Khalistan groups in Canada for their recent anti-India demonstrations ahead of the G7 Summit, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend. Professor Sarchand Singh Khyala, spokesperson for Damdami Taksal and a BJP leader, said in a statement, 'In the video, I can see that innocent children aged between five and seven years disrespecting the pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The pro-Khalistani people are spewing venom against India. They are spreading hatred by brainwashing children, and I strongly condemn this,' Khyala said. Khyala also praised PM Modi, who reached Canada Tuesday for the G7 Summit at Kananaskis in Alberta, for his efforts on behalf of the Sikh community. 'Sikhs are known for their brotherly harmony and for helping people. PM Modi has done a lot for our Sikh community. Whatever has not been done in the last 70 years, PM Modi has done it. This is the reason PM Modi has been awarded the Qaumi Seva Award by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for his contributions to the Sikh community,' he said. Khyala was the spokesperson for Damdami Taksal, and he has continued to communicate with the media on behalf of the organisation even after joining the BJP in January 2022 during the Punjab Assembly elections campaign. Damdami Taksal, which primarily focuses on training Sikh preachers, previously supported the BJP in Maharashtra during the 2024 Assembly polls. It maintains influence within the Sikh community through its network of trained preachers and maintains links to several gurdwaras, including some under SGPC management and others in countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It was once led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the radical Sikh preacher who was killed in Operation Bluestar in 1984. Bhindranwale was seen as a prominent figure by many within the Damdami Taksal.