Amritsar, Punjab (July 26, 2013): It is learnt that a delegation of Muslim representatives met Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh on the issue of conversion of Sikhs into Islam by former Director General of Police Mohammad Izhar Alam. The delegation has reportedly defended Izhar Alam and said that the conversion of Sikhs to Izlam, the details of which were made public by All India Sikh Students Federation (Peermohammad) were only “re-conversions” to Islam.
“Sources reveal that the delegation comprising Usman Sadiq, Suleiman Josh, Mohammad Hanif and twelve others from Malerkotla visited Jathedar’s residence and denied conversion of Sikhs into Islam”, the Punjab News Line (PNL) has reported on July 25, 2013.
On the one hand the Muslim delegation denied forced/induced conversion of Sikhs to Islam, but on the other had it admitted the conversions by saying that the persons were “re-converted” to Islam. According to the delegation persons so converted were Muslims before 1947 who were left in India during partition and had become Sikhs.
It is notable that All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) president Karnail Singh Peermohammad had last week submitted memorandum to Jathedar extending information about forced conversion of Sikhs to Islam by infamous former Punjab cop Izhar Alam.
He had demanded an inquiry into these conversions.
Meanwhile Jathedar Akal Takhat – Giani Gurbachan Singh has reportedly confirmed the meeting with Muslim delegation, however, but did not disclose the details of discussion with the delegation.
AISSF president Peermohammad while talking to Punjab News Line (PNL) reportedly said, the meeting of Muslim delegation with Jathedar confirms his allegations of alleged conversions.
“He questioned even if those converted to Islam were Muslims before partition why their children or even they are being converted 66 years after independence” reads a PNL news report.
“Being a Sikh, I have raised my concern with Jathedar Akal Takht and done my duty. Now Jathedar Sahib, SGPC, Dharam Parchar Committee have to further pursue the matter and take action in the benefit of whole community” Peermohammad reportedly told PNL.
It is notable that Izhar Alam enjoys patronage of Punjab’s ruling Badal Dal. He was allotted a ticket for “Member of Legislative Assembly” (MLA) by Badal Dal, but after opposition from some religious allies the Badal Dal decided to give ticket to his wife.
It is notable that Izhar Alam had been a controversial figure. Many reports by Human Rights bodies have documented the evidence that he formed a personal force named “Alam Sena” that comprised criminals and police cats who eliminated Sikh youth, and family members/sympathizers of Sikh militants in extra-judicial killings.
US diplomatic cables leaked by Wikileaks also affirm the existence of Alam Sena. In this regard a US Diplomatic cable dated: December 19, 2005 reads:
[During the insurgency, he assembled a large, personal paramilitary force of approximately 150 men known as the “Black Cats” or “Alam Sena” (“Alam’s Army”) that included cashiered police officers and rehabilitated Sikh terrorists. The group had reach throughout the Punjab and is alleged to have had carte blanche in carrying out possibly thousands of staged “encounter killings.” (NOTE: Former Director General Punjab Police KPS Gill publicly praised the group, saying the Punjab police could not function without them. End Note.) Herkewaljit Singh told us that Alam was “at the top of the list” in authorizing encounters during the insurgency period”.]