Sikh outfits release Nanakshahi calendar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 16

A group of around 60 Sikh organisations from Punjab as well as countries such as the US and the UK today got together to release the “original” Nanakshahi calendar in Jalandhar.

Talking to The Tribune, Sikh Sewak Society (International) state president Parminderpal Singh Khalsa alleged the calendar released by the Sikh high priests in Amritsar on March 14 was Nanakshahi in name but Bikrami in character. He alleged they had played a fraud on the Sikh community.

He said there is only one Nanakshahi calendar that came into force in 2003 and whose architect was Pal Singh Purewal of Canada. He alleged those at the helm of the affairs were working under pressure of the RSS and deras that wanted the Sikh community to revert to the Bikrami calendar.

Dubbing it vote-bank politics, he blamed the Akali Dal for it and alleged the ruling party had abolished the Nanakshahi calendar for political gains.

The organisations also rejected the committee constituted by the Sikh clergy to resolve the calendar row.