SGPC Passes Resolution Against RSS for 'Trying To Make' India a Hindu Rashtra
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Amritsar: Strongly opposing the move to suppress minorities in India, including the Sikhs, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex body controlling gurdwaras, passed a resolution condemning the alleged moves made by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) to make the country a “Hindu rashtra”.
It also called on the Central government to work for the protection of the rights and freedom of religion of all religions instead of being “ready to implement the efforts initiated by the RSS”. All those elements which try to suppress the minorities should be punished, the resolution sought.
The resolution on RSS read, “India is a multi-religious, multilingual and multi-ethnic country. Every religion has made a great contribution to its freedom, especially the Sikh community, which has made more than 80%sacrifices. But sadly, for a long time now, the religious freedom of other religions has been suppressed in the wake of the RSS’s move to make the country a Hindu Rashtra. Minorities are being targeted through direct and indirect intervention.”
Amidst Sikh religious slogans ‘Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal’, the resolution was moved by SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur and approved by the members during the annual budget session on March 30. Some other important resolutions were also passed on this occasion.
Notably, the resolution has come at a time when many farmers – including Sikhs – were sitting in protest against the three farm laws for more than four months in Delhi and a Sikh religious group was prevented from visiting Pakistan for the centenary anniversary of ‘Saka Nankana Sahib’ by the Centre in February.
On the issue of the Sikh jatha not being given permission to visit a gurudwara in Pakistan, a resolution was passed, which coloured the action of the Indian government similar to those taken by the British and the Mughals and asked the Union government to apologise to the Sikh community.
A resolution condemning the “anti-farmer, black laws” framed by the Centre was also passed, demanding its repeal. It read, “Agriculture cannot be ignored in the country, as the farmer feeds the country and the world by producing food grains with great difficulty. The black laws passed by the Centre are going to ruin the farmers, so they should be withdrawn immediately.” The resolution also pledged to stand with all sections, including the farmers, who are struggling against the laws.
In another resolution, the SGPC strongly condemned the death of Navreet Singh, the grandson of Hardeep Singh Dibdiba, during the tractor march held by the farmers in Delhi on January 26, 2021 and the “torture and imprisonment” of hundreds of them.
The SGPC also demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter and sought the immediate release of farmers and youth lodged in jails. The cases filed against them should be withdrawn, it demanded. Earlier, the resolution also sought to provide adequate compensation to those who were injured during the tractor march and sought an inquiry into the alleged role of government agencies in the violence.
Declare 2021 as ‘International Human Rights Year’
A resolution was passed demanding that the United Nations declare 2021 as the “International Human Rights Year” with regards to the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur being celebrated on May 1, 2021.
The resolution stated, “The ninth Sikh Guru (Guru Tegh Bahadur), despite not agreeing with the traditions and principles of Hindu religion, opposed forcible conversion and was martyred. He is celebrated for being the chaadar (shroud) of Hind and following dharam (righteousness) around the world. Guru Sahib protected religious rights through his martyrdom. Therefore, in view of this contribution of Guru Sahib, on the occasion of his 400th birth anniversary, the year 2021 should be declared as the ‘International Human Rights Year.”
The SGPC also passed a resolution regarding the reopening of the Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib corridor. This passage to Pakistan leads to the holy shrine of Guru Nanak Dev.
It said that the temporary closure of the corridor due to COVID-19 is hurting the religious sentiments of the devotees. Now that various other religious places and institutions have been opened, the corridor of Sri Kartarpur Sahib should also be opened without any delay, it read.
It is pertinent to mention here that in October 2019, the Akal Takht jathedar (leader) Giani Harpreet Singh had called for a ban on the RSS and said that the Sangh’s aim of a Hindu rashtra was against the interest of the country, after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had called India a Hindu rashtra on the occasion of Vijayadashami.
At that time, Giani Harpreet had specially mentioned that there are Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, Parsis among others who live in India. People speak different languages in the country and it would be wrong to say that India will be made a Hindu rashtra, he said.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
