Amritsar (June 20, 2012): The Sikh groups took serious view of the derogatory remarks published in the autobiography of veteran journalist Kuldeep Nayar and asked him to clear all false accusations within one weeks time, failing which they would be forced to write to Punjab government seeking ban on his book and also resorting to street protests.
The organizations which took part in deliberations include Dal Khalsa, Khalsa Action Committee and SAD (Amritsar) and (Panch Pardani).
The gathering demanded from Akal Takht to direct the SGPC to withdraw the honour and purse it gave to Nayar in 2006 at a function held at Golden Temple. Speakers after speaker hits out at Nayar for spreading the vilified propaganda to defame and malign the image of Sikh martyrs and Dal Khalsa.
The resolution adopted during the gathering stated that “notwithstanding the biased name calling of the Sikh martyrs by historians and writers including Kuldip Nayar, the Sikh community continues to hold them in high esteem. Sikhs have love, respect and admiration for their great leaders and martyrs that include Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and Bhai Amrik Singh, who awakened them from slumber and fought against state’s aggression. The gathering warns Nayar for possible protests in future if he would not withdrew his words and clear the mess.
Dal Khalsa head H S Dhami reteirated that the author should withhold the stock of the current edition lying with the publisher and insert an additional page to clear all ‘false accusations’ against Sikh personalities and their group. He said, “nobody knows when and under what circumstances the next edition would come out”.
Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said they would also write to the publisher of the book seeking withdrawal of all derogatory contents citing apology by the author.
Bhai Mohkam Singh, Jasbir Singh Rode, Gaini Baldev Singh, Satnam Singh Paontaa Sahib also spoke.