LONDON, UK— A special program was held by the Akhand Kirtani Jatha on March 27 to commemorate the martydom of 1978 and of all other Shaheeds of the Panth. The program was held at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Derby, where the following eight resolutions were passed –
1) Beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
The Sikh Panth and Gurdwara management committees should remain alert in religious matters and prevent the desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Culprits should be caught and harsh punishments should be delivered to them. We agree with the formulation of the newly passed law of life imprisonment for those prosecuted for the desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s Saroop. The law should be implemented with immediate effect and the rightful culprits of the Beadbi of Behbal Kalhan and Bargarhi, and other incidents, should be identified and punished.
2) Recognition of the Jathedar Singh Sahib Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara Ji
We recognize Jathedar Singh Sahib Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara Ji as the officially appointed authority of the Sikh nation, as the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, by the Sarbat Khalsa on 10th October 2015. The previous Takht Jathedars were influenced by one political family which made them fail in serving the Panth due to their political alliance and pressure. In the future, we will accept the unanimous appointment of Takht Jathedars that are appointed by the entire Khalsa Panth.
3) Violation of International Riparian Law by the looting of Punjab’s rivers
We will not accept the looting of Punjab’s river waters through the reconstruction of the SYL canal, which was stopped under the command of Jathedar Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar Ji in 1990. We appeal to all Punjabis to stand united to stop the looting of Punjab’s rivers.
4) The incitement of racial and religious hatred
There is a growing trend of fascism and communal majority in India being flared up by some extremist organisations, whereby minorities are being attacked under the garb of nationalism. The use of force and intimidation to get others to recite any religious or national slogans, in the same spirit, the labelling of others as anti-national, for example the recital of “Jai Hind” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” as per highlighted by the global media, are condemned, and will not be tolerated by the Khalsa Panth.
5) Support for the sovereign Sikh Calendar of 2003
The Sikh nation is independent and sovereign and so is its Nanakshahi Calendar, which was passed by the Khalsa Panth in 2003, by thousands at Sri Damdama Sahib. Attempts to undermine this under political pressure amount to creating divisions and weakening the sovereignty of the Khalsa Panth. We are today releasing the original and unmodified Nanakshahi Calendar and appeal to the whole Sikh nation to accept and adopt it.
6) Panthik solidarity
All Sikh groups and Jathebandis whilst maintaining their distinctiveness and identity, are appealed to recognise and stand united on the common denominators that unite us all. ‘External powers’ seeking to weaken the Khalsa are taking advantage of the Sikhs in-fighting, using abusive language, and questioning the Rehat Maryada, Nitnem Banis, and historical religious scriptures of the Panth.
7) United stand against Gurudoms
Historically Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Damdami Taksaal have worked united to answer the challenges of self-styled Gurus supported by the Indian State. In 1978, the Gursikhs from both Jathebandis gave their lives not tolerating the slander of the Guru and attempts to attack Sikh ideology and Maryada under the front of fake Deras and so-called holy men that misuse Gurbani to mislead innocent people. It is the responsibility of all Sikhs to spread awareness of these fake holy men and Gurudoms.
8) Expansion of faith-based education
The need of faith based education to the new generation is most relevant now, more than ever. We should endeavour to open more Sikh Schools and increase awareness of family life, drugs and alcohol, female foeticide, expensive weddings etc. All Sikh organisations and NGOs should support and encourage the youth to become highly educated and professional to influence the future of the Sikh nation in a positive direction. Parchariks adhering to Gurmat, Akal Takht Maryada and who address current socio-religious Panthik issues fearlessly and positively should be given due respect and support by all Gurdwaras.