AMRITSAR SAHIB—The amended Nanakshahi Calendar that was brought into existence not too long ago has left Sikhs confused due to coinciding dates for the martyrdom anniversary of the younger Sahibzade and the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. To sort out this confusion, Singh Sahibs today asked Sikhs to celebrate the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji on 7th January.
This meeting of Singh Sahibs was held at the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, in which appointed Jathedar Singh Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh, Giani Mall Singh (Jathedar, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib), Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh (Jathedar, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib), Giani Raghbir Singh (Granthi, Sri Darbar Sahib), and Giani Mann Singh were present.
The panel of five Singh Sahibs also issued a religious punishment to Mangwinder Singh Khaapdkhedi for breaking the sanctity of langar by serving it to devotees sitting on tables and chairs. Similarly, owners of a book firm were given religious punishment for not keeping Sikh religious sentiments in mind in their publications.
Gurcharan Singh Babbar was relieved from punishment on his written promise to not write against Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. After the meeting, Giani Gurbachan Singh asked Sikh devotees to remain aware of rising proselytizing by the right-wing Hindu terrorist organization, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the villages of Punjab. RSS seeks to undermine the Sikh religion by teaching that Sikhs are really Hindus.
While admiring the newly released animated movie Chaar Sahibzaade, he said that these kinds of new films should be made in the future to teach about Sikhi.
While answering a question about the hunger strike of Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh Khalsa, he said that the list of Sikh political prisoners has been sent to Vice Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and he has started work on the issue. But, as the legal procedures are often time consuming, it is going to take time to sort out this issue.
