Op/Ed – Missionary Inder Ghagha Arrested for Hurting Sentiments of Hindus

Editor’s Note: Sikh24 condemns the Indian government’s actions in arresting Inder Ghagha, even though Sikh24 finds much of Inder Ghagha’s previous statements to be contrary to Sikhi.  Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji condemns countless religious practices that are not based in truth.  Ghagha was arrested for an article exposing the ritual of rakhri.

PATIALA, Punjab— The arrest of Inder Singh Pannu (Ghagha) has received mixed reactions from Sikhs living worldwide.  Ghagha’s pool of online followers and the Missionary lobby has renounced his arrest however his large number of opponents have not shown much concern.  Inder S. Ghagha was arrested earlier this week for provoking sentiments of the Hindu community.  A compliant by filed by a local Hindu Sant Samaj committee asking for Ghagha’s arrest based on some of his writings in a book.

Pro-Missionary and Kala Afghana websites are highlighting the arrest of Inder S. Ghagha as a limelight incident.  Various letters and articles have been posted in support of Ghagha and denouncing his arrest.  A group of notorious websites operating from East Coast Canada have been behind much of attention that is being given to Ghagha.  Khalsa News website even gave the title of “Ghagha Sahib Ji” to this controversial “katha-kar”.  This label was later removed by the editors.

On the other hand, mainstream Sikh community that is already fed up of the missionary lobby and its anti-Sikh ‘mis-parchar’ has not cared much about Ghagha’s arrest.  Ghagha has in past mocked Sikh traditions and history and made statements such as Guru Sahib ate Halal meat in Mecca and that the fifth Guru Ji lost consciousness after facing torture from the Mughals.  In addition, Ghagha has also questioned the Sikh Rehitnamas and especially the practice of Naam Simran.  Ghagha has also stated that the nitnem banis have been adopted from the “Markande Puran”.  (See embedded video for reference)

Ghagha remained center of much havoc in Toronto when his katha caused a brawl to breakout at a Gurdwara there.  After the incident, Ghagha was invited for a debate in Brampton by Sangat of Gurdwara Sahib Tapoban, in which he was questioned about his opinion on various topics.  Ghagha was left speechless at the debate and he agreed to make changes to writings and not publicize any topics without presenting proof.  It turned out that Ghagha was publishing many topics merely on the basis of his own perceived logic and without any historical research.  Ghagha later retracted his Toronto apology.  Videos of Ghagha’s debate in Toronto is available here –

Although the Missionary lobby will continue to promote this notorious “Professor” as a courageous leader, in reality, it is known that Ghagha is not even a man of his words.  The Kala Afghana lobby has continued to attack the Sikh beliefs while sugar coating them with their expose of the Hindu religion.  The strategy that Ghagha and others are applying today is not different than dozens of books that were penned by excommunicated Gurbaksh Kala Afghana.  Kala Afghana had aimed at subtly attacking the core principles of the Sikh religion amidst his so-called strikes on the Hindu philosophy.