Sehajdhari row: Dal Khalsa slams parties

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 28

The Dal Khalsa today lashed out at Akali-turned-Congressman Manpreet Badal for saying that 80 per cent of the total Sikh population, including him, were Sehajdharis.

The office-bearers of the organisation said he and his new boss, Capt Amarinder Singh, were educated illiterates who have no knowledge about the distinction between Patits and Sehajdharis. Anyone who is not born a Sikh, but believes in Sikh philosophy and observes its rites is a Sehajdhari. But a Sikh with shorn hair is not a Sehajdhari Sikh, but a Patit.

The office-bearers, who met to take stock of the religio-political situation in Punjab, questioned the basic knowledge of Congress leaders, including Amarinder, Ravneet Bittu and Manpreet, and AAP MP Bhagwant Mann about Sikh Rehat Maryada and Sikh Gurdwara Act (1925).

Briefing the media, party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said such politicians were deliberately blurring the difference between Patits and Sehajdharis with an eye on Patit votes.