Panthic bodies observe Gatka Diwas in city

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 21

While the third International Yoga Day was celebrated worldwide, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and many other panthic organisations instead observed June 21 as Gatka Diwas, which was celebrated with fervour near the Guru Nanak Mission Chowk.

“The Modi-led government declared this day as International Yoga Day but the Sikh community has no connection with yoga,” said Manjit Singh Reru, president, SAD (Amritsar). Reru said: “Yoga guru Ramdev to save his life fled from Ramlila Ground in Delhi in woman’s garb during a protest. How can such yoga tutors save the life of others if they cannot save their own.”

The leaders glorified the art of Gatka by saying: “Gatka players not only defend themselves but also safeguard the poor. That is why the Sikh Gurus motivated us to play gatka, kabaddi, wrestling and other traditional sports to enable us to protect ourselves as well as others.”