World Sikh Council begins today

Declining values and lesser inclination towards religion among the community's youth, demand to reinstate the Nanakshahi Calender, protest against ban on pagdi (Sikh turban) in France and demand of Indian citizenship for those sent away from Afghanistan are few of the important issues that would be taken up during a day-long session of the World Sikh Council on Sunday here.

Declining values and lesser inclination towards religion among the community's youth, demand to reinstate the Nanakshahi Calender, protest against ban on pagdi (Sikh turban) in France and demand of Indian citizenship for those sent away from Afghanistan are few of the important issues that would be taken up during a day-long session of the World Sikh Council on Sunday here.

HT Image

Around 45,000 Sikhs from all across the world have congregated at Gurudwara Rakabganj for participating at the event, being held in the national capital for the first time.

The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is the organizer for the event.

Delegates have already arrived from United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and France to name a few countries.

“The Sikh religion has been witnessing a down trend for quite some time,” said DSGMC's Harvinder Singh Sarna.

“Our youth are increasingly taking to drugs, values have declined and overall they are not inclined towards the religion. Our biggest worry at tomorrow's open session would be the condition of the youth of the community.”

Apart from the above issues, there would also be a discussion and demand for publishing a list of people “allegedly blacklisted” some 20 years ago.

“The various embassies keep denying people entry to India citing this list. But till date, it has not been published,” Sarna said.

He added that the participants attending the congregation would discuss this and the other issues and come up with resolutions at the end of the session.