India

Sikh intellectuals slam Akal Takht Jathedar’s call for freeing detainees nabbed during Op Amritpal

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

Rajinder S Taggar

Guest writer

Recent Posts

‘Political space given to extremist forces’: EAM Jaishankar on attacks on Hindu temples in Canada

External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar expressed concerns about the recent attacks on the Hindu temples…

20 mins ago

Coast Guard Chief S Paramesh calls on Navy Chief Admiral, deliberates on ICG’s operational readiness

Indian Coast Guard Chief Director General S Paramesh has called on Indian Navy Chief Admiral…

33 mins ago

North Korea launches short-range ballistic missiles ahead of US elections

Just a few hours ahead of the presidential polls in the United States, North Korea…

42 mins ago

Brampton: Thousands take out solidarity rally against attacks on Hindu temples in Canada

Over a thousand Canadian Hindus gathered outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Canada on…

2 hours ago

Jaishankar meets Australian counterpart Penny Wong for Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue in Canberra

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was welcomed by Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, at the…

2 hours ago

Israel targets Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Syria

Israel on Monday targeted Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters in Syria. Sharing a post on X, the…

2 hours ago