Canadian gurdwaras stand divided over curb orders

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 21

Fissures have started emerging within Canadian gurdwara managements over the contentious issue of curbs on Indian officials in gurdwaras.

At least 14 gurdwara committees of Ontario Province of Canada and 96 of the US had announced the curbs.

Some Sikh leaders have now started distancing themselves from the decision. Four members of the Ontario Khalsa Durbar (known as Dixie Road gurdwara) — Parmjit Singh Bolina, Navjit Singh, Gurinder Singh Bhullar and Amrik Singh Deol — have contended that neither the issue was ever brought up any committee meeting, nor any resolution was passed in this context.

“The curb order can be the personal views of gurdrawa president Gurpreet Singh Bal, who had raised the issue during his speech on the New Year’s Eve. Each gurdwara has its doors open for persons of any religion, caste and creed,” said the members in a statement.

Similarly, Sukhwant Singh Rai, Sarvan Singh Gill, Sarvan Singh Sandhu, Pushpinder Singh Atwal and Mohinder Singh Grewal, all directors of Brampton-based Guru Nanak Sikh Centre, Glidan Road, and Gurdwara Brampton Sikh Sangat, Regan Road, have distanced themselves from the January 6 decision taken by a number of Ontario gurdwaras.

“The Sikh principles are based on equality of mankind. No one can be stopped from partaking of ‘langar’, listening to ‘gurbani’ and paying obeisance,” they said.