Akal Takht chief wants Sikhs united on issue
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, January 6
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has appealed to all Sikh organisations to resolve the controversy over Nanakshahi calendar and join hands to seek release of Sikh prisoners lodged in various jails.
The appeal was made at the Golden Temple during an event organised to mark the death anniversary of Kehar Singh and Satwant Singh, who were hanged on this day 26 years ago for assassinating the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The event was organised by the SGPC and other Sikh organisations.
He stressed the need for Panthic unity. He urged various groups not to fight over on the calendar issue. Instead, they should get united in seeking the release of Sikh detainees, he said. Without complete unity and harmony within Panthic groups, the Sikhs won’t be able to get justice, he added. He said, “The calendar issue is our internal matter and we will resolve it amicably at appropriate time.”
The Dal Khalsa and some hardliner groups reiterated their demand for the construction of a memorial to Beant Singh, Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh, who assassinated Indira Gandhi.
The Jathedar of Akal Takht honoured Tirlok Singh, father of Satwant Singh, and brother of Kehar Singh.
Others present on the occasion included former MP Dhian Singh Mand, Jagtar Singh, Baldev Singh Sirsa, Advocate Sailka, Darbar Sahib manager Partap Singh, Sarbjit Singh Ghuman, Mohkam Singh, Gurdeep Singh Bhatinda and Wassan Singh Zaffarwal.