Alleging “forced conversions” into Christianity and warning that the practice “will not be tolerated anymore”, the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Harpreet Singh, has called a gathering of the Sikh community to discuss the issue, at Anandpur Sahib on September 5. He said the Sikh community needs to “seriously think about demanding an anti-conversion law” in Punjab.
Speaking to The Indian Express on Wednesday, he said: “We have never demanded an anti-conversion law in Punjab. We didn’t want it. But such a situation has been created now that we are pushed to make the demand. Sikhs need to seriously think about demanding this law, which we never wanted in the first place,” he said.
“For some time now, some so-called Christian missionaries have been forcibly converting Sikhs by adopting miracle cures and fraudulent practices. Such practices are being adopted although these go against Christianity… Sikhs and Hindus of Punjab are being misled to convert them to Christianity, and this is happening under the government’s nose. Although there are provisions in India’s law to book people for superstitious practices in the name of religion, no government is ready to take action against them due to vote-bank politics,” he said.
“For the last six months, police complaints have been filed by Sikhs… that these people (missionaries) are practising forcible religious conversions by misleading the public, but the administration did not take any action. Sikhs are not against any religion or its values, but against fraud being committed in the name of religion,” said the Jathedar.
“We are against miracle cures (pakhandwaad) in our own religion also. The Bible too denounces such people… But here, such superstitions are being used to lure the Sikhs,” he said.
He claimed that poor Sikhs and Hindus from backward classes were being targeted by missionaries funded by “foreign forces”. “Punjab is a border state. If such practices of forced religious conversions are taking place in a border state with the support of foreign forces, it is alarming. The practice of forced religious conversions will not be tolerated anymore,” he said.
“Indian law does not permit forcible religious conversions, but it is surprising how these people are running a largescale campaign, especially in the border area of Punjab,” he added.
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The Jathedar’s statement came on a day when four masked men vandalised an idol on the premises of a church near Patti, in Tarn Taran district. Earlier this week, police registered an FIR against 150 Sikhs for allegedly disturbing a Christian congregation in Amritsar on Sunday. The Jathedar has urged the police to quash the FIR and release a Nihang who was arrested.
“The law of the country gives reservation benefits to Hindus and Sikhs, but not to Christians. But it is surprising how reservation benefits are being taken even after converting to Christianity in Punjab. It is a matter of grave concern,” he said.
Earlier, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) had taken suo motu notice of the Akal Takht Jathedar’s allegations on religious conversions. It had convened a meeting of representatives of Sikh and Christian communities on June 16 to discuss the issue.
In August last year, NCM joint secretary A Dhanalakshmi had sought a report from then Punjab Chief Secretary Anirudh Tiwari on related issues, including the number of conversions in the last decade, whether these were forced or voluntary, and the number of churches constructed in this period.
A 12-member sub-committee formed by the SAD to introspect on its defeat in the Punjab Assembly polls had also noted the political implications of the “failure” of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) “in stopping religious conversions of Sikhs into other faiths.”
On Monday, Manjit Singh Bhoma of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) had demanded a ban on religious conversions in Punjab.
Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts.
Core Beats & Specializations
Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions.
National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups.
Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies:
1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht
"Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015.
"YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies.
"As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications.
2. Crime & National Security
"Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison.
"Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border.
"15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions.
3. Political Analysis & Elections
"AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress.
"Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages.
"AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions.
4. Human Interest
"Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction.
"Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo.
Signature Beat
Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect.
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