Akal Takht distances from govt celebrations of Guru Teg Bahadur martyrdom anniversary

Akal Takht acting Jathehar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj today sought to distance the 'Sikh panth' religious ceremonies from the official ceremonies being organised by the Punjab government to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh Guru — Guru Teg Bahadur — at Shri Anandpur Sahib.

The acting Jathedar, in an informal conversation with The Tribune, today, asserted that the government functions were different from those being observed by the ‘Sikh panth’.

He noted that while the government functions were being held between November 23 and 25, the Sikh panth will observe complete one week from November 23 to 29, to commemorate the closing ceremonies with the day when the ninth Guru was cremated at Sri Anandpur Sahib.

He also said that religion was one’s own choice and conversions were repression and the human rights were violated.

"Choosing a religion is one’s own choose and anything must not be imposed by any state," said Jathedar who was in the city to attend a seminar held to commemorate the 350th Martyrdom day of the ninth Guru at Guru Nanak Engineering College here.

On the issue of the Sikh woman, who went missing in Pakistan and reportedly married a Pak National, the acting Jathedar said that it was the failure of the state government as many cases were registered against the woman, she should not have been given the permission to travel to Pakistan with Sikh Jatha. He said that to evade arrest or action, the woman had slipped to Pakistan as many others also had left the country on similar grounds.

Meanwhile, the seminar was participated amongst others, including Dr Satinder singh retired pro VC GNDU, Dr Dharamjit Singh Parmar, VC Baba Bhaag Singh University, Dr Harjot Singh, from Bhai Beer Singh Chair, Punjabi University Patiala and Senior SAD leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal.