Akal Takht boycotts RSS affiliate’s event

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 23

Akal Takht today announced a boycott of an event being organised by the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), in New Delhi on October 25 to celebrate Guru Gobind Singh’s 350th birth anniversary.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh directed the Sikh community to abide by the 2004 ‘hukumnama’ (edict), which had termed RSS activities as a “deep-rooted conspiracy against the Sikhs”.

Following complaints about the RSS’s participation in commemorating the 400th Parkash Utsav of Guru Granth Sahib in 2004, Akal Takht had pronounced a ‘hukumnama’ on July 23 that year, directing the community to shun Sangh activities.

The Jathedars of all Takhts have been invited to Wednesday’s function, even as Takht Patna Sahib head Giani Iqbal Singh is likely to preside over it. The keynote address will be delivered by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

Meanwhile, the Dal Khalsa dubbed Rashtriya Sikh Sangat activities as a nefarious design to penetrate into Sikh rank and file. Rubbishing the RSS affiliate’s name, party head Harpal Singh Cheema said there was only one (Sikh) Sangat that was dedicated to the 10 Gurus and their philosophy and it had nothing to do with any “rashtra”.

Party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said the RSS had been striking at the roots of Sikhism.