| Step up efforts to implement Anand Marriage Act, Jathedars ask SGPC |
Dec 16: The Sikh clergy today asked the SGPC to intensify the efforts for the implementation of the Anand Marriage Act to facilitate a special provision for the registration of marriages performed under Sikh religious rights.
The matter came up during a meeting of the Sikh high priests at Sri Akal Takht here following correspondence in this regard from Harbans Singh Aujla of Toronto, who has been trying to get the Act implemented, and other Sikh leaders. At present marriages performed under Sikh religious rites are registered either under the Hindu Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act. Interestingly, Pakistan has taken the lead over India by adopting the amended Anand Marriage Act in January 2008.
The Sikh high priests praised the human rights organisation, Sikhs for Justice, for making an endeavour along with the All- India Sikh Students Federation to bring the culprits of 1984 riots to book. They commended the campaign launched by these outfits to file a petition with the United Nations Human Rights Commission, seeking recognition of 1984 riots as genocide under Article 2 of the UN Convention and seeking an impartial probe into the killing of Sikhs. Akal Takht directed the Sikh community to extend its full support to the campaign.
The turban issue also came up for discussion at the meeting which appealed for unity among Sikhs to deal with the prevailing situation. The Sikh high priests emphasised on a concerted effort to find a proper and respectable solution to the ban on turban in France and frisking of turbans on the pretext of security in the US. They appealed to gurdwara committees and Panthic organisations to participate in large numbers in the protest march in this regard outside the US Embassy in New Delhi on December 23.
In another significant move, the Sikh clergy urged for observing the martyrdom of Sahibzadas at Fatehgarh Sahib solemnly. They said the ‘langar’ prepared on the occasion should be simple, while the great sacrifice of the Sahibzadas should be highlighted from political stage as well. This is being seen as a message to the political parties to refrain from political mudslinging during their conferences on the occasion.
The meeting could not reach a conclusion on the row surrounding Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna’s allegations against noted lawyer HS Phoolka. Sri Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said the report submitted to them by a five-member committee of Sikh scholars in this regard was incomplete and they could only reach a conclusion after hearing all the sides. Sarna had alleged that Phoolka was given a huge amount of money to contest the cases of the victims of 1984 riots, a charge denied by the latter.
Meanwhile, Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh was conspicuous by his absence at the meeting. He was not invited to the meeting in view of his controversial edict over Raagmala. He confirmed that he did not receive any invitation for the meeting. The Sikh high priests steered clear of the Raagmala row at the meeting.