Farmers Movement Archive

Jan 26 incident was unfortunate: Akal Takht jathedar

Amritsar: Denouncing the happenings at Red Fort on January 26, Akal Takht officiating jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Friday asked the government and protesting groups to keep channels of dialogue open and advised the latter to maintain decorum and discipline during the agitation. Talking to TOI, Harpreet said what happened on January 26 was unfortunate and should not have happened . “Whether police cane-charged farmers or farmers attacked police is violence, which can’t be justified by anyone,” he said. The jathedar observed that the duty to maintain discipline and decorum of the movement wrested on shoulders of farm leaders. “If they take credit for the desirable outcome of the struggle, they should take responsibility if something unpleasant happens,” he said. Stating that it had been long since the farmers of India had been agitating for the repeal of the three contentious farm laws, he said the issue would be resolved only through a process of dialogue and both sides shouldn’t close the doors for conversation. He said an amicable solution could be reached only by sitting across the table, following which farmers who were sitting on the borders of Delhi could go back home. He said both the government and protesting bodies should move a step backward, leave obstinancy and find a solution to the issue in a peaceful manner. “It will be wise for the government to move a step back, and so do we,” he said. Harpreet also advised farm leaders to not issue provocative statements or pass remarks against each other . Talking about hoisting of Khalsa flag on the ramparts of Red Fort by a youth, he said there wasn’t any need to make many hue and cry over the hoisting of a religious flag on an bare pole near Red Fort. “When Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee celebrates Vijay Diwas every year, Khalsa flags are hoisted on the walls of Red Fort. Recently, Sikh Regiment hoisted Khalsa flag at Galwan Valley, two Khalsa flags were hoisted on a tabelue dedicated to Guru Teg Bahadur during this January 26 parade,” he said, while giving examples of hoisting of Khalsa flag. However, he clarified that the Khalsa flag or other Khalsa symbols shouldn’t be defamed by calling them symbols of Khalistan. He said hoisting a Khalsa flag was not a crime. He pointed out that the actual perpetrators of a crime often escape and innocent fell prey to police. “Something similar happened on January 26,” he said.

The Times of India

2021-01-30

Chandigarh