Akal Takht acting Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj alleges mistreatment of Sikh youth in Himachal Pradesh

Jatehdar Gargaj also directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to raise this issue with the Himachal Pradesh Government, and ensure that action is taken.

In a press statement, Gargaj said such actions will not be tolerated. “When the police stop young Sikhs for vehicle document checks, no local miscreant has the right to forcibly harass them or tear down religious flags from their vehicles. Whether the Himachal Police were acting under the influence of local hooligans rather than upholding the law,” he said in a statement.

Gargaj asked Sikh youth travelling to Himachal Pradesh to ensure that their vehicle documents were in order and to avoid travelling alone.

He also called upon Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to take strict action against those behind such incidents, and instruct the police to maintain law and order. “Some anti-social elements are trying to disturb communal harmony between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and it is the government’s responsibility to rein them in. India is a multi-religious and multi-linguistic country where everyone has religious freedom. Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale is a national martyr and hero of the Sikh community, who was declared a martyr by Sri Akal Takht Sahib,” said Jathedar.

Gargaj also accused the Himachal Pradesh Police of encouraging a hateful atmosphere against Sikhs rather than fulfilling their responsibility. He condemned the forced removal of Nishan Sahib flags and images of Sikh martyrs from vehicles of pilgrims visiting Sikh shrines in Himachal Pradesh.

He said that India’s Constitution guarantees religious freedom and freedom of expression, and that fostering hatred against Sikh leaders in Himachal Pradesh is detrimental to communal harmony. “I have instructed SGPC to raise issue with the Himachal Pradesh so that such behaviour can be avoided in future,” he said.