Hoshiarpur: Dal Khalsa leader Dr. Manjinder Singh Jandi has raised questions over Giani Gurbachan Singh’s directing asking Sikhs to mark August 14 as Ardas Divas to seek “Darshan Didar and Seva Sambhal” of Gurdwaras (Visit and service of Gurdwaras in Pakistan) that were ‘separated from the Panth’ during the partition of 1947.
Dr. Jandi said that Gurdwaras in Pakistan are already managed by the Sikh community and Panthic maryada (Sikh code of conduct) is followed in those Gurdwara Sahib.
He said that the Sikh sangat from around the globe visits Gurdwara Sahibs in Pakistan but on the other hand the Indian state has barred many Sikhs residing in foreign countries from visiting Gurdwaras situated in Indian subcontinent, including the Darbar Sahib Amritsar.
He said that instead of issuing such directions, Giani Gurbachan Singh should take steps to facilitate visit of Sikhs, who are “blacklisted by the Indian state”, to Darbar Sahib Amritsar and their motherland i.e. the Punjab.
He also raised concerns that two of the five Sikh Takhts, namely Takhat Hazoor Sahib and Takhat Patna Sahib that are located outside Punjab are under clear influence of RSS led Hindutva forces. He called upon Jathedar to take stand against increasing Hindutva influence on Sikh institutions.