Expressing concern over the alleged attacks on the Sikhs in the country, Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh on Friday said that it “seems the Sikhs are not enjoying freedom in India”.
“Circumstances are not favourable for Sikhs in India and abroad. The Sikh wrestlers are deprived of wrestling (contests) for wearing patka. The Sikh students are not allowed to appear in examination with their religious articles such as kirpan and kara. They are humiliated with abusive words,” he said in a statement issued here.
The jathedar further said, “The Sikhs are being tortured across the country. They are forcibly being evicted from their houses where they have been residing for many decades in Shillong (Meghalya) and Mumbai. Nobody in free India knows the characteristics of the Sikh faith. It seems that they are not experiencing the freedom in this country.”
He referred to the Sanaur incident in which the cops tortured and assaulted seven Sikh youths at a police station. He also mentioned another incident wherein the Sikh students were not allowed to appear in examination with their religious articles in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan.
“Indian is multi-religion country where making arrangements for the safety of the followers of every religion is duty of the governments. Sikhism has also distinct rituals, traditions and tenets. It is duty of the governments to make its every department aware of it and they should ensure that no untoward incidents take place with the Sikhs and their children,” said Giani Gurbachan Singh.
{{/usCountry}}“Indian is multi-religion country where making arrangements for the safety of the followers of every religion is duty of the governments. Sikhism has also distinct rituals, traditions and tenets. It is duty of the governments to make its every department aware of it and they should ensure that no untoward incidents take place with the Sikhs and their children,” said Giani Gurbachan Singh.
{{/usCountry}}He said the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and other Sikh bodies should also spread awareness on the Sikhism through literature and other means such as internet and electronic media.