Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami rejecting Veer Bal Diwas being observed by the Government of India, appealed to the Sangat (community) to be aware of the government’s conspiracy of undermining Sikh history.
In a statement issued on Sunday, SGPC President said that the Government of India is on the path of concocting Sikh history and it is unfortunate that the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is supporting this. He said that going against the traditions of the Sikh community, observing the martyrdom day of Sahibzadas as Veer Bal Diwas by the Government of India is a mischievous conspiracy to undermine the greatest martyrdom and valuable heritage in the world’s religious history.
Harjinder Singh Dhami questioned that if the government really wants to pay homage and respect to Sahibzadas, then what is the problem in observing this day as Sahibzade Shahadat Diwas? He said that history is a witness that the martyrdom of Sahibzadas was important in uprooting the Mughals from this region, but the way the government is insisting on marking the martyrdom day of Sahibzadas as Veer Bal Diwas, it is clear that the government is playing politics at the behest of anti-Sikh forces.
Targeting DSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka, SGPC President Dhami said that even though the name Veer Bal Diwas is not accepted by the community, Kalka is working as a mouthpiece of the Union government. He questioned Kalka whether this act of his is not a refusal to obey the orders of Sri Akal Takht Sahib?
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that on the order of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, a committee of Sikh scholars has suggested the name Sahibzade Shahadat Diwas instead of Veer Bal Divas and in this regard, a letter was sent to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Culture by the SGPC.
“But still the government did not change the name and DSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka being a part of government functions is painful for the community. Harmeet Singh Kalka must clarify his involvement in the government’s conspiracy to distort Sikh history”, said Harjinder Singh Dhami.
He appealed to the office-bearers and all the members of the DSGMC to protect the Sikh ideology.
SGPC President said that the Sikh community will never let the originality and importance of its history diminish and will pay respect and reverence to the Sahibzadas as per the spirit of its history.