HOSHIARPUR: At its first annual conference, the activists of Sikh Youth of Punjab from all over the state emphasized the need to focus on education and skills development if the community has to realize its potential in the next 25 years.
There was a consensus amongst the participants that the young boys and girls of the state should change the trend of 'running to western countries' for better lives as their absence has been filled by heavy inflow of migrants that have posed threat to language, culture and peace in the state. The resolution to this effect was adopted on the occasion.
Earlier, the delegates of the youth organization elected Gurpreet Singh Mann their next president for the term of 1 year and authorized him to resurrect the organizational structure afresh.
Around 300 delegates of the organization from Punjab today converged at local Gurdwara and choose Mann to lead the party.
Mr Mann’s name was proposed by the outgoing president Ranbir Singh, which was unanimously approved by the house. Mr Mann, 34 who hails from Jalandhar is engineer by profession. He did B.E. in 1998 from Bidar College, Karnataka.
It is pertinent to mention that the “Sikh youth of Punjab’ was formed on Dec 21 last year with an aim to promote the spirit of Sikh Nationalism and to instill a sense of pride among young Sikhs for their own religious and cultural identity.
Exercising his power vested on him by the delegates, he appointed Prabhjot Singh as vice-president, Saravkar Singh as general secretary and Noblejeet Singh as organizing secretary. He also named 5 other office bearers including Tarjinder Singh from Gurdaspur, Karan Singh, Jagsir Singh. A 30 member working committee was also named to streamline the working of the organization.
Mr Mann during the three hour meeting repeatedly asked party activists to strengthen the SYP at College and University level and underlined the fact that there should be no laxity on the part of party workers.
As a guest speaker, Dal Khalsa president H S Dhami exhorted the youth to be on the forefront to lead the movement against drug menace and apostasy to its logical end.
“I salute the valour and contribution of Sikh youth for the just cause. It is high time for them to come on the forefront of the non-violent movement for justice and dignity of the Sikh people. Youth can act as catalysts to strengthen our movement,” Dhami said.
Another speaker Kanwar Pal Singh expressed concern over the denial of the status of holy city to Amritsar. “While a number of other cities like Varanasi and Hardwar have been declared as holy by the so-called secular government of India, they have been steadfast in ignoring the claims of Amritsar, says Dal Khalsa leader.
The conference through a resolution reiterated its unflinching respect for Guru Granth Sahib and appeals to one and all to flush out all such cults and deras that have been cropped up to undermine the basic fundamentals of the Sikh religion. The resolution further reads “ by using the teaching and hymns of the Gurus as enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib, a number of cults have mushroomed all over the Panjab and elsewhere, purporting to be the true heirs to the Sikh legacy. He asked the Sikhs to oppose the cultist activities of the Sauda dera and Mahant Aushotosh.
In another resolution the gathering warned the SGPC against tempering with the Nanakshahi calendar. Instead of amending three dates including Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary, Bandi Chorr Divas and Hola Mohalla that has been inherited from Bikrami calendar, the SGPC is doing otherwise. It is hell bent to kill the basic purpose and spirit behind the formation of the calendar, which is true manifestation of the separate and unique identity of the Sikh Nation.
