Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj has taken serious note of the alleged harassment and coercion of Sikh youths in Uttarakhand. He has urged the state government to ensure the safety of the Sikh ‘sangat’ travelling for the Hemkunt Sahib pilgrimage.
Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj also strongly criticised Gurdwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust. He called its statement asking Sikhs to leave their kirpans behind for the pilgrimage “highly unfortunate”. He said the Trust representatives would soon be asked to explain their conduct.
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He stated that the Trust’s primary responsibility is to coordinate with the Uttarakhand Government before the pilgrimage begins. This is to ensure that local people do not harass any Sikh devotee en route.
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On the recent Karnaprayag incident, Jathedar Gargaj termed the Uttarakhand Police action “highly condemnable and one-sided”. He said that in an ordinary road rage case, Sikh youths were booked under strict sections, subjected to custodial coercion and assault, and paraded publicly with turbans removed. He demanded a high-level probe and strict action against police officials for hurting Sikh religious sentiments.
According to information received, Jathedar Gargaj said local people first attacked the Sikh youths. The Sikhs used kirpans in self-defence. He added that using a kirpan for self-defence is natural if a Sikh is mistreated.
He said all governments and police administrations know that the turban and kirpan are articles of Sikh faith, or ‘Kakaars’. Publicly removing turbans of arrested Sikh youths is a serious unconstitutional act in a democracy. Hence, an impartial investigation is needed.
Jathedar Gargaj alleged that the Uttarakhand Police, under pressure from local elements, are targeting Sikhs with one-sided action. Meanwhile, inflammatory and communal social media posts against Sikhs that harm social harmony are being ignored.
He noted that similar incidents occurred in Himachal Pradesh recently, but the Punjab Government took no supportive action. He expects the same now. “Therefore, Sikhs will deal with such issues themselves,” he said.
The Jathedar directed every Sikh going on the pilgrimage to go “tyar bar tyar and shastardhari” — fully prepared and carrying the Sikh ‘Kakaars’ — and to stay united. He urged youths to face oppression with patience, but not to take the law into their own hands.
Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj also directed SGPC to provide full legal assistance to the youths arrested by the Uttarakhand Police in the Karnaprayag case. He appealed to devotees to immediately inform the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib if any pilgrim faces harassment in Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand
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