UK Gurdwara committee insults the Panth’s Shaheeds

“The UK Sikh community is urged to attend the Akhand Paath bhog at Leamington & Warwick Gurdwara on 13th November and support the local Sangat’s cause in remembering the Sikh nation’s martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Guru and the Panth, despite an anti-Sikh stance from the communist gurdwara committee. The bhog will take place at 10am will be followed by Dhadi Vaars.”

Leamington—In further evidence of the on going deterioration of our Sikh institutions, disturbing anti-Sikh ideology of the recently new management committee of Leamington & Warwick Gurdwara Sahib in UK has come to public light. The Leamington & Warwick Gurdwara has been under the public spotlight since 2006 when they were exposed for celebrating Bandi Chhor Divas with a meat and alcohol party in the Gurdwara complex. Leamington & Warwick Gurdwara is now under the spotlight for insulting the Sikh nation’s martyrs, venerating the evil tyrants who attacked the Sikh nation in 1984 and bullying the local Sangat.

Every year the Leamington and Warwick Sangat hold an Akhand Paath remembrance programme in memory of all the Sikh nation’s shahids (martyrs). This year, after the bhog of the Akhand Paath, Dhadis are going to sing Vaars in tribute to Shahid Bhai Beant Singh, Shahid Bhai Satwant Singh, Shahid Bhai Kehar Singh, Shahid Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda and Shahid Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukha.

Two weeks ago, a senior member of the Gurdwara management committee was approached about putting the poster for the event on the Gurdwara notice board. The committee member replied that the poster cannot be put up as some people have complained that the photos of those who have killed Indira Gandhi have been displayed. The Sangat explained to the committee member that the people on the poster are the Sikh nation’s great martyrs who have been honoured by Sri Akal Takht Sahib. The committee member replied that if we allow this Akhand Paath then someone could argue that it is okay to do an Akhand for Indira Gandhi as she is a ‘Shahid’ also.

The Sangat approached some committee members again one week ago about putting up the poster on the notice board. The committee members replied disgracefully that “We only accept those as Shahids who are included in the Ardas. We do not accept anyone else as a Shahid and this poster cannot be put up.”

That Sunday, the Stage Secretary made an announcement on the Gurdwara stage that, “an Akhand Paath will be held next week by a small section of the Sangat because the whole Sangat does not consider those people Shahid. Some call them ‘terrorists’ and others ‘shahid.’ The Committee only accepts those as Shahids who are mentioned in the Ardas. For this reason the poster with these photos will not be allowed to be displayed in the Gurdwara. Only Guru Nanak’s Bani can be preached here, no other thing is allowed here.”

The whole incident highlights how our Gurdwaras have fallen back in the hands of corrupt individuals. The new breed of Masands seem to be power hungry individuals who lack intelligence and capabilities of gaining power in local politics or control of their own homes and families, so instead they wield their force in the local Sangat and do the utmost to gain a power hold of the local Gurdwaras.

The booze drinking ‘custodians’ of the Gurdwara have turned their backs on the Sikh nation’s heroes who defended their honour and respect of the Sikh nation by delivering justice to those that dared attack the heart of the Sikh community. If Shahid Beant Singh and Shahid Satwant Singh are terrorists, then would Leamington & Warwick Gurdwara committee consider Bhai Mehtab Singh and Bhai Sukha Singh as 18th century terrorists because they assassinated Massa Rangar? Would the same management committee consider Baba Deep Singh a terrorist and controversial because he defending the honour of Sri Harimandir Sahib and beheading Jahan Khan and killing countless other soldiers of Abdali who had desecrated the Sikhs’ most holiest shrine

The UK Sikh community is urged to attend the Akhand Paath bhog at Leamington & Warwick Gurdwara on 13th November and support the local Sangat’s cause in remembering the Sikh nation’s martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Guru and the Panth, despite anti-Sikh stance from the communist gurdwara committee. The bhog will take place at 10am will be followed by Dhadi Vaars.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here