Latest news with #SriAkalTakhtSahib
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘War devours the innocent': Akal Takht Jathedar condemns attack in Poonch, urges peace between India and Pakistan
Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, has condemned the shelling in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch in which Sikh community members were killed and the wall of a gurdwara was damaged on Wednesday. 'The attack on Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha and the loss of Sikh lives is not just an event—it is a blow to humanity,' he said. Calling for diplomatic efforts, Jathedar Gargaj urged both India and Pakistan to reduce tensions. 'Both governments must act with wisdom, not weapons,' he added. Official sources said that at least 10 civilians were killed and 40 were injured, mostly in Jammu 's Poonch sector, as Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling across the Line of Control in response to India's Operation Sindoor. A large number of houses were damaged or caught fire in the cross-border shelling, forcing hundreds of residents to flee to safer areas. The deceased in Poonch included Bhai Amreek Singh, soldier Bhai Amarjeet Singh, and Bhai Ranjit Singh, a shopkeeper. A Sikh woman, Bibi Ruby Kaur, also lost her life in the Manakot area. 'Since 1947, this conflict has caused suffering, including to Hindus and Sikhs near the border. How many more must pay for a conflict they did not create?' Gargaj said that the longer the region remains in conflict, the more it will harm its people. 'War always devours the innocent… Peace is not weakness—it is the strength we must summon.' 'This violence has taken lives from our community,' Jathedar Gargaj said, adding, 'Amreek Singh served through kirtan, Amarjeet Singh defended the borders, and Ranjit Singh was a tradesman. Their lives should not have ended like this.' He called for prayers (ardas) for their souls and for their families to gain strength. Addressing the people of the border areas, Jathedar Gurgajj asked for support and faith. 'Support one another. Take shelter in Gurbani. Stay firm. Pray for peace,' the Jathedar said. After the shelling by Pakistan, many families in Poonch have begun fleeing toward Jammu, seeking safety amid fears of further violence.
Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Extremely poor seats, substandard cleanliness': Ex-Akal Takht Jathedar alleges ill-treatment by Air India staff
The former Jathedar of the Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Raghbir Singh, has alleged ill-treatment by Air India staff and hit out at the airline for what he described as 'extremely poor' business class conditions on an international flight to the United States. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann responded to the development on Friday, urging the Centre to 'take exemplary action against those responsible'. In a social media post on Thursday, Giani Raghbir Singh said he was scheduled to travel from New Delhi to San Francisco on Air India flight AI183, along with two others, to participate in a Gurmat Samagam event in Sacramento, California. He alleged that although they boarded the flight with business class tickets, the condition of the seats was 'extremely poor' and 'the cleanliness was substandard'. 'Upon lodging complaints on the spot, the Air India staff members misbehaved,' he further alleged, adding that 'the captain of the flight spoke decently'. Air India is yet to issue a response to the allegations. Following the incident, the former Jathedar said he and some other dissatisfied passengers disembarked in protest and sat near the immigration checkpoint inside the terminal. 'We have been harassed at the airport for the past three hours. The immigration officers took our passports, but have not contacted us since. We have not received our luggage either, and no Air India official has reached out to us,' he said. He further alleged that the group was left without food or water during the ordeal. 'We have been sitting hungry and thirsty in front of the immigration counter for the past three hours — this treatment is utterly disgraceful,' he stated. Giani Raghbir Singh called for immediate action, demanding that Air India address the issue and improve the standard of service provided. In a post on social media on Friday, CM Mann said, 'We have received information about a condemnable incident involving former Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest religious seat of the Sikh community, and respected Head Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib, Giani Raghbir Singh Ji, who was allegedly mistreated by Air India and its staff.' Calling Giani Raghbir Singh 'a highly respected figure of our community', Mann said, '…we strongly denounce such behaviour towards him. We demand that the central government investigate the matter thoroughly and take exemplary action against those responsible, so that such incidents do not occur in the future.' Earlier this year, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had expressed anguish over the discomfort he experienced during an Air India flight from Bhopal to New Delhi after travelling on a 'broken' seat. The minister had questioned the Air India management over the incident, asking if it would 'take steps to ensure that no passenger faces such inconvenience in future'.
