Should Conspiracies to Control Sikh Religious Bodies Be Exposed?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sikh Unity: Urgent call for Sikhs to unite against conspiracies.
- Guru Tegh Bahadur's Legacy: Emphasis on the importance of secularism and human rights.
- Vigilance Required: Warning against attempts to undermine the Khalsa Panth.
- Historical Context: Recognition of past sacrifices for religious freedom.
- Community Leadership: The need for democratically elected representatives in religious matters.
New Delhi, Oct 18 (NationPress) The President of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Sukhbir Singh Badal, urged Sikhs globally to acknowledge, unveil, and thwart a longstanding conspiracy aimed at seizing control of Sikh religious organizations, thereby leaving the Khalsa Panth without leadership.
Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to honor the 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, the ninth Guru, Badal emphasized that the nation must emulate the teachings of Guru Sahib and uphold the principles of secularism, human rights, and civil liberties for which he made an extraordinary sacrifice.
“Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib is unparalleled in history as a religious leader who laid down his life to protect a faith that was not his own. The country must recognize Guru Sahib as the epitome of religious tolerance and societal harmony,” he stated.
He asserted that Guru Sahib's advocacy for secularism and human rights aligns with the fundamental values of SAD, with Parkash Singh Badal consistently safeguarding these principles to ensure 15 years of sustained peace and communal harmony in the state.
Badal cautioned that the malicious strategies being employed to undermine the Khalsa Panth and its institutions pose significant risks to peace and communal unity.
“Currently, the Khalsa Panth faces an unprecedented ideological and political onslaught. Influential factions within the country are utilizing a time-honored tactic to seize control of the three premier religio-political institutions of the Sikhs – Shri Akal Takhat Sahib, the SGPC, and SAD – by enticing opportunistic individuals within the community and financing their malicious social and mainstream media initiatives to tarnish Akali leadership and mislead the Sikh populace,” he warned.
“What is unfolding in Punjab over the last 13 years is a conspiracy of misinformation aimed at deceiving the community. The ultimate goal of these anti-Sikh conspirators and their allies is to deny Sikhs their right to manage their sacred places through democratically elected representatives. Their endgame is to dilute and obliterate the distinct identity of the Khalsa Panth by seizing control of our revered historical sites and administering them according to the preferences of non-Sikhs,” Badal concluded.