Chandigarh: The Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh is being flayed by prominent professors of universities for having issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Punjab government demanding the release of “innocent” Sikh youths arrested during Operation Amritpal.

The Jathedar on Monday addressed a gathering at Akal Takht, Amritsar, declaring that the Sikhs are being deliberately defamed the world over though they have sacrificed their lives for the country. “If our boys are not released within 24 hours, we will launch a ‘Vaheer’ (march) mobilising Sikhs from villages against the vindictive and undemocratic actions of the rulers,” he said.

He also demanded the return of about 80 motorbikes taken into custody by police at Harike when Sikh youths were going to join Amritpal’s protest before Ajnala police station.

Professor Iqbal Singh Dhillon of Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, was vehement when he said, “Jathedar was playing politics at the instance of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) by wrongly portraying the entire Sikh community as victims. He did not utter a word when Amritpal and his men were threatening a democratically elected government creating an atmosphere of disharmony.”

Dhillon maintained, “the invitees at Akal Takht headquarters were all Badal’s men. Independent Sikhs were not part of the gathering and a misplaced attempt was made to project SAD (Badal) as the protectors of the victims. He even does not issue any diktat to NRI Sikhs who indulge in hooliganism abroad.”

Professor Manjit Singh of PU questioned the Jathedar why he did not advise Amritpal when he took cudgels against Christians and other communities refusing to call himself a citizen of India. “Giani Harpreet Singh remained mum all this while but had praised Amritpal for his ‘Amrit Sanchar’ (Baptism drive) and anti-drug campaign,” he said in a television talk.

Professor Malwinder Singh Malli of Punjabi University Patiala in a post on social media, trashed Jathedar’s call to start a ‘Vaheer’ (march) from villages – a title used by Amritpal – aimed to condone his sins.

He said, “at the time of farmers’ movement against draconian laws, you (Jathedar) supported Badals who worked against the movement… now you are claiming that Sikhs are not separatists but Amritpal was a hardcore Khalistani separatist…he was anti-Christians…anti-minorities…you once praised Simranjit Singh Mann for being bold in seeking Khalistan as all Sikhs want it…today you are a desh bhagat (nationalist)…’tusi jathedar suaah de ho?’ (you are a no-good Jathedar)

A professor of the Guru Nanak Dev University said on condition of anonymity, “Giani Harpreet Singh is naive who does not know how to lead Sikhs in the right direction…he, at one time, advised Sikhs to acquire weapons…his effort is to create a psychism between the Sikhs and other communities without caring for the affluent members of the community settled outside Punjab.”

Also Read: Watch: How Amritpal Singh raised armed anti-India force, conducted firearms training at range