Farmers Movement Archive

Haryana: Jathedar seeks strict action against anyone promoting Hindu-Sikh enmity

KURUKSHETRA: Taking notice of the complaint filed by Haryana Sikh Parivar (HSP), acting jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh has asked the Haryana government to keep the “so-called organisations like Dev Sena and people like Guni Parkash in control” and demanded strict action against them for promoting enmity between Hindu and Sikh communities. Talking to media at Amritsar, Giani Harpreet Singh on Monday said, “In the recent past, a convention was held by farmers in Kurukshetra, Haryana, in which, Sikhs had also participated in large number. Some mischievous elements while wearing ‘gatras’ (belt used to carry kirpan) (and kirpans) attempted to disrupt the event there. At that time, Sikh youths of Haryana caught the mischievous elements, but the Haryana government or administration did not take any action against them. It resulted that those elements lodged a complaint against the Sikhs (with Kurukshetra SP for looting cash and their kirpans).” “Secondly, by releasing a video, they (elements) threatened that they will reach Kurukshetra again while wearing gatras (kirpans) on August 21. A so-called Dev Sena organisation is committing these mischievous acts. Haryana government should keep this jathebandi (organisation) in control as it is disturbing the (peaceful) environment of Haryana state and also hurting the Sikh sentiments,” said Giani Harpreet Singh. The acting jathedar said Dev Sena has been working to create a rift between Hindu and Sikh communities and attempting to break the mutual understanding between them. He asked the Haryana government to “control this organisation (Dev Sena) and punish the culprits by registering cases against them. In case, if any untoward incident takes place in Kurukshetra (on August 21), then its responsibility will solely be on Haryana government and administration. These elements will not be allowed to succeed in anyway and they will be stopped from committing their mischiefs. Their motive is to hurt the Sikh sentiments by committing such mischiefs and to tease Sikhs.” Talking about derogatory remarks by BKU (Mann) Haryana state president Guni Parkash against Gurnam Singh Charuni, the acting jathedar said, “A person (Guni) uttered derogatory remarks against the turban and kes (hair) of Gurnam Singh Charuni. That person uttered these words not only for Charuni, but the entire Sikh community. Haryana government should take strict action against him (Guni) and lodge him in jail.” Jathedar said that these type of incidents hurt the Sikh sentiments and these cannot be tolerated at any cost. He said it is a well-planned conspiracy to hurt the Sikh sentiments and disturb the harmony between Hindus and Sikhs in Haryana who are living together peacefully for long.

The Times of India

2021-08-10

Chandigarh