Hoshiarpur: Striking a discordant chord, Dal Khalsa and Akali Dal Panch Pardani today asserted that non-inclusion of the Sikh regiment in the India’s republic day parade was non issue for them and it should be the same for the community at large.
Spokespersons of both the groups, Kanwar Pal Singh and Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said this step by the Modi government should serve as a reminder to the Sikhs of their status in this Hindu-India.
Harpal Singh Cheema (L), Kanwar Pal Singh (R)
The Indian state has never spared any effort to demean and undermine the Sikhs. This has been the case on many an occasion since the last five decades, observed both the leaders.
Quoting professor of Sikhism Sirdar Kapur Singh, “Sikhs are nothing but cannon-fodder for the state”, they said what happened on Jan 26 this year was not a matter of injustice but a grim reminder as to how ‘badly and indifferently, the political establishment of this country treats the Sikhs.
Taking a dig at SAD controlled SGPC and DSGMC, they said voices of protest and regrets reflect the slave mindset of the present day Akali leadership. Contrary to this weakness, they said ‘we should rejoice at the non inclusion and work towards the freedom and sovereignty of Punjab’.
He said that Shiromani Akali Dal should work on a larger canvass for the upholding of Sikh distinct identity rather than cribbing over such small issues. Taking a jibe at Rajya Sabha member and Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, they said there were more pressing issues of larger interest of the community that warrants attention and needs to be raised at national fora’s including the parliament.