Amritsar: The officiating jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, on Thursday expressed deep concern over the alleged harassment of Sikh youths in Uttarakhand and urged the state government to ensure the safety and security of devotees traveling to Hemkund Sahib.
Condemnation of Police Action
Referring to the recent incident at Karnaprayag, Gargaj described the police action as "highly condemnable and apparently one-sided." He alleged that Sikh youths had been booked under serious charges, subjected to custodial excesses, and publicly paraded after their turbans were removed. He demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident and action against police officials found responsible for hurting Sikh sentiments.
Concerns Over Pilgrim Safety
Gargaj also warned representatives of the Gurdwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust over reports that Sikh devotees had been advised not to carry their traditional weapons, or shastars, during the pilgrimage. Calling such statements unfortunate, he said the Trust's primary responsibility was to engage with the Uttarakhand government and ensure that no Sikh devotee was mistreated by local residents along the route.
According to Gargaj, information received by him suggested that local residents had first attacked Sikh youths and that the latter used their kirpans in self-defense. He emphasized that the turban and kirpan are integral to Sikh religious identity and that publicly humiliating Sikh youths by removing their turbans after arrest warranted an impartial investigation.
Growing Concern Among Sikh Organizations
The development comes amid growing concern among Sikh organizations over recent altercations involving Sikh pilgrims at religious destinations, including Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand and Manikaran Sahib in Himachal Pradesh.
Neena Singh, a member of Sikh Legal Aid, said the organization had written to the Uttarakhand governor and chief minister, seeking measures to ensure the safety of Sikh devotees and referring to special arrangements made for Kanwar Yatra pilgrims. She also referred to videos circulating on social media which, according to the organization, showed local residents allegedly provoking Sikh pilgrims before clashes broke out.
Shamsher Singh Padhri, spokesperson for Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, said the party had written to the Himachal Pradesh governor and chief minister, expressing concern over the safety of Sikh pilgrims visiting religious destinations in the state. He claimed that reports and videos circulating online indicated instances of hostility and verbal abuse directed at Sikh visitors by certain individuals and alleged that Sikh religious symbols had been disrespected in some incidents.
Call for Action
Gargaj said similar incidents had occurred in Himachal Pradesh in the past and directed Sikh organizations in Uttarakhand to organize themselves and assist pilgrims facing difficulties during the journey. He also asked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to provide legal assistance to the youths arrested by the Uttarakhand police in connection with the Karnaprayag incident and appealed to devotees to immediately report any instance of harassment or injustice in Uttarakhand or Himachal Pradesh to the Akal Takht secretariat.
