Patiala, Punjab: A video has surfaced over social media which shows that Prem Singh Chandumajra (currently MP from Anandpur Sahib), Punjab’s current Education Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra and Congress leader Preneet Kaur gave ‘Tilak’ to Guru Granth Sahib. The video is supposed to be recorded in year 2008 at Dera Baba Biram Dass located at Village Rodewal in Patiala district. These politicians are accused of violated Sikh code of conduct as there is no tradition to give ‘Tilak’ to Guru Granth Sahib, notes Rozana Pehredar, a Punjabi vernacular.
This video is supposed to be recording of a Samagam held at Dera Baba Biram Dass to mark 300th anniversary of ‘Gur-Gaddi’ to Guru Granth Sahib. Video shows that Prem Singh Chandumajra, Preneet Kaur and Surjit Singh Rakhara were asked by Balwant Singh Siora to give ‘Tilak’ to Guru Granth Sahib. Rozana Pehredar notes that that many other Hindu rituals were also performed by these politicians in in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib.
The video has gone viral and it remains topic of heated discussion over the social media.
I am no aware about ‘maryada’, ask Jathedar Akal Takhat: Chandumajra
Rozana Pehredar notes that Anandpur Sahib MP Prem Singh Chandumajra admitted that controversial ritual of ‘Tilak’ was performed in 2008 during a Samagam at Dera Baba Biram Dass, but maintained that he did not gave ‘Tilak’ to Guru Granth Sahib. When he was informed that his video is now available over social media which shows that he violated the Sikh maryada by giving tilak to Guru Granth Sahib, he said that he was not aware about ‘Maryada’ and Akal Takhat Jathedar should be asked about it.
Giving ‘Tilak’ to Guru Granth Sahib is violation of ‘Maryada’: Jathedar Akal Takhat
Rozana Pehredar quotes Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar Akal Takhat, saying that it was against the established Sikh tenets to give ‘Tilak’ or performing any other Hindu rituals in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib.
When he was informed that Badal Dal leaders Prem Singh Chandumajra and Surjit Singh Rakhra were involved in violation of maryra, Giani Gurbachan Singh reportedly said that these politicians can not be summon at Akal Takhat Sahib over this issue. He, however, cautioned the concerned politicians, in particular, and the Sikh masses, in general, to not to perform any such rituals in violation of Sikh maryada.