Chandigarh. August 5, 2023 (Yes Punjab News)
Shiromani Akali Dal today reacted strongly against “ the spate of raids being conducted in Punjab on mere suspicion against individuals and organisations linked with Sikhism and engaged in carrying on social welfare and relief work in the state, the country and abroad.
Addressing media persons at the party headquarters here this afternoon, senior SAD leader Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra took strong exception to the manner in which raids were conducted on individuals and offices belonging to the Khalsa Aid.
Prof Chandumajra also condemned the manner in which the highly respected Sikh NRI Sardar Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi , a sitting member of the British Parliament, was stopped and harassed before being allowed to board his flight from the International airport, Amritsar.
“ Deplorable incidents like these remind the Sikh masses of the era of the Congress rule especially under Mrs Indira Gandhi, when even the most highly respected Sikhs like the country’s only Marshall of the Air Force Arjan Singh and eminent journalist Khushwant Singh were targeted by anti Sikh mobs in Delhi or when the Akali workers and leaders like Sardar Parkash Singh Badal and Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra were stopped from entering the National capital during the Asian Games.
“ Raid and others modes of harassment including false cases against innocent Sikhs on the merest suspicion intensify the already deep sense of hurt and emotional alienation of the Sikh masses from the national mainstream. It is natural for us to feel targeted and discriminated against when even highly respectd Sikhs like Sardar Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi are targeted merely because of their religious identity. This is highly deplorable and it is no even in the overall national interest,” said prof Chandumajra.
Referring to the raid on Khalsa Aid branch, he said “ If there was any specific complaint against any individual, he should be questioned and treated under due process of law, instead of being harassed and humiliated by government agencies as the Khalsa Aid workers were being subjected to such treatment . “ Why should an entire organization, engaged in humanitarian work, be defamed and harassed for the wrong doings of any single individual connected with it, even if the said individual may have violated some clauses of the law of the land.
He urged the Union Home Minister to intervene to get such discriminatory acts stopped.
The Akali leader further said, “We the Sikhs are famous all over the world for rushing to the aid of the victims of natural and other calamities all over the world, regardless of religious, racial or national identity. This is a part of our Guru Sahiban’s teachings to us.”
He said that in recent days, Sikh organisations and institutions, spearheaded by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and Shiromani Akali Dal leaders and workers, remained in the fore front of helping victims of the unprecedented flood disaster in Punjab.
This spirit, which is the guiding light and inspiration for all Sikh-ideology driven institutions especially the SGPC and SAD, has made the Sikhs famous all over the world as saviours of humanity. Khalsa Aid is also one of the organisations which has remained in the news for the same kind of humanitarian work. So, the government needed to come clean on the reasons to target Sikh institutions, organisations and individuals ,” said Prof Chandumajra.
The Akali leader disclosed that the SAD President Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal had convened a special meeting of senior leaders of the party in the wake of floods and a decision was taken by him that the party workers must lead from the front in saving and helping our people. Subsequently, he formally directed all Akali office bearers and workers to fan out throughout the flood affected areas and help the victims in every possible way.”
He said that barring the Akalis, no other political party even thought of reaching out to the beleaguered Punjabis during this difficult period.” This is the difference between SAD inspired by the ideals of the great Guru Sahiban and other political parties inspired merely by self interest.”
Prof Chandumajra said that the Punjab government “kept sleeping over the crisis as people cried out for help. All that the AAP government did was to treat the crisis as a photo opportunity and their leaders were seen getting themselves deliberately wetting their feet and clothes in mud merely for cameras. This was shameless.”
He said that the government was irked by “the great humanitarian service being performed by the SGPC and that probably was the reason why it keeps interfering in the religious affairs of the Sikhs, especially focusing on interference in the day to day affairs and decision making processes of the supreme elected Sikh religious parliament, the SGPC.
Prof Chandumajra called for an end to government interference in all Sikh religious affairs including the Anand Karaj Act which lies in the domain of the SGPC to make recommendations on any necessary amendments.”
Prof Chandumajra said that his party will continue to champion the cause and interests of Khalsa Panth and Punjabis against all repressive measures and methods being adopted by the governments of the day.
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