Akal Takht Jathedar: Sikhs will remember jatha was stopped on centenary of Nankana Sahib masscare
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Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said that Sikhs will remeber for next 100 years that they were stopped from going to Nankana Sahib on the 100th anniversary of massacre.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) observed the first centenary of the massacre that happened 100 years ago to free Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, from mahants.
The Akal Takht jathedar had to lead a Sikh Jatha to Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, to observe the anniversary, but the Home Minister denied permission to the Jatha at the last moment.
The Akal Takht jathedar attended alternative event for masscare anniversary on Sunday at Godharpur village in Gurdaspur district of Shaheed Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharowali who led the group of Sikhs to Nankana Sahib at the time of the massacre.
The event was attended by 32 families of martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the massacre.
Speaking on the occasion, Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, criticised the “attitude of Government of India towards Sikhs and asked the government to change its mind towards the minorities”.
He said, “The incumbent government is into politics of polarisation. First you create hate against Muslims and Sikhs in the minds of the majority. Then thrash the Muslims. Thrash the Sikhs and get the majority votes. This politics is neither good for govt not for India. Politics of polarisation will destroy India.”
He said, “Today hate is being spread against us. Then we will be thrashed. But Sikhs can’t be executed because even Aurangzeb failed in it. Sikhs are inspired by their glorious history to fight for rights and truth. Attempts have been made to end Sikhs politically, socially, economically, and religiously since 1947. Our existance is in danger and it is a must for the community to stand unitedly.’’
The Akal Takht jathedar said, “The Government of India has once again reminded us of the pain of Saka Nankana Sahib which took place a hundred years ago. The attitude of the Central Government towards observing the centenary of Saka Nankana Sahib at the birth place of Guru Nanak is the same as that of the British. The Government of India did not allow Jatha (group) to go to Pakistan due to full participation of Sikhs in the Kisan Andolan (farmers’ movement) but the government was under the illusion that Sikhs would withdraw support from the movement.”
He said, “The Government of India is following the same path as the British used to do a hundred years ago. This is not in the interest of the country and the government should realise that every citizen living in this country has equal rights.”
Giani Harpreet Singh said, “The unity is the need of the hour and the Sikh community should forget differences and show qaumi unity.”
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal was present at the function. Speaking before the Jathedar, he raised questions on the ‘silence’ of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on this issue.
He said, “The decision of the Central government to stop the Sikh community from visiting Pakistan is unfortunate. The silence of the Punjab chief minister on the arbitrary decision of the Centre raises a big question. The chief minister of Punjab should have spoken to the Centre but unfortunately he remained silent.”
Libraries in villages of martyrs
SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur announced the setting up of a langar hall and library for Gurdwara Sahib at Godharpur at the village of Shaheed Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharowali.
“Libraries would be set up in the towns belonging to the martyrs of Saka Nankana Sahib and at the same time religious teachers would be provided in the schools of these towns,” the SGPC president said.
Bibi Jagir Kaur also announced the conduct of research to provide information about the history of Sikh martyrs and their families in order to restore the sanctity of gurdwaras.
Jathedar edict: Mention govt stopped Jatha in congregation
The Akal Takht Jathedar issued an edict to all the members of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee and Delhi Sikh Management Committee members to organise religious congregations in their constituencies in the period of one month to remember Nankana Sahib martyrs and also must tell devotees that govt didn’t allow Sikh Jatha to visit Nankana Sahib.
Giani Harpreet Singh was speaking from Akal Takht on Sunday evening during an event organised at Akal Takht to remember Nankana Sahib martyrs.
“Every SGPC member should organise five religious congregations in their constituencies. Every DSGMC member should organise two such congregations. All prominent Sikh bodies should also hold these congregations all over the world within one month in which devotees are told about the history of Nankana Sahib massacre. At the same time, it must be mentioned during these congregations that Indian government stopped Sikh Jatha from visiting Nankana Sahib on 100th anniversary of masscare,” said the Akal Takht jathedar.
Courtesy: indianexpress.com
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
