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“Cannot openly condemn”: Sikh body chief on alleged sacrilege, killings

December 21, 2021
Bharat Times

Harjinder Singh Dhami is the President of Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee.

New Delhi:

Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami told NDTV on Monday evening that the mob lynchings of two men accused of hurting Sikh religious sentiments in Punjab’s Amritsar and Kapurthala were not “ordinary incidents” and “only a matter of condemnation”. Wasn’t”. ,

A senior medical officer told news agency PTI that Mr Dhami refused to condemn the brutal killing of the two accused – the man who died in Kapurthala had at least eight “deep, sharp cuts” on his neck and body, which were possible with swords. He said he could not “strongly condemn the incident”.

“It is not a simple incident. It is related to Guru Granth Sahib and not just any social crime. We cannot condemn this incident (death of two accused) as it involves the sentiments and beliefs of Sikh people. ” He told NDTV.

“This was not the first incident of sacrilege,” said Mr. Dhami, “of all incidents’Bidbi‘, or the sacrilege, till date none of the accused have been convicted… This is no ordinary incident.”

The reference was to the 2015 sacrilege and police firing case, which remains a highly controversial topic in Punjab and Congress’ Navjot Sidhu has often attacked both his party as well as the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP. power at that time.

Mr. Dhami also claimed that the mob killings were done in ‘self-defence’; “The law of defense says that if someone tries to attack, you can also retaliate,” he said.

However, he also said: “First the matter should be investigated … then action should be taken.”

Apart from the SGPC, leaders from the ruling Congress in Punjab to opposition parties such as the AAP and the BJP have also been reluctant to condemn the deaths, aware of the potentially disastrous reaction of Sikh voters in the February-March assembly elections.

Sidhu demanded that the accused of sacrilege be hanged publicly, It is not clear whether he was referring to people who were charged with such offenses or who were found guilty after being tried in court.

Two people were killed by mobs this week at Amritsar’s Golden Temple and Kapurthala, whose identities are yet to be ascertained. Allegedly hurting religious sentiments of Sikhs,

The first murder took place at the Golden Temple – a man at the age of 20 jumped into the enclosure where the Granth Sahib is kept. When the priest ran to control him, he was seen carrying a golden sword.

He was beaten to death.

Less than 24 hours later, in Kapurthala, a man was brutally assaulted after villagers claimed he was caught trying to remove the Nishan Sahib (Sikh flag); He was initially taken into police custody, but the brutal scene unfolded after the mob fought the police and attacked the man with sticks.

Later the police took him to the hospital where he was declared brought dead.

According to the police, the incident seems to be a case of sacrilege and not theft. Kapurthala police chief GS Dhillon said today, “There are no clear signs of an attempt at sacrilege.”

So far only one FIR has been registered – in connection with the alleged sacrilege. Police said another case has been registered against the attackers, but quickly reversed his statement, saying they need more information.

The alleged profanity and deaths come as Punjab prepares to vote in an election on a knife-edge, with the ruling Congress defection, the prospect of an Amarinder Singh-BJP alliance, and relentless thorny attacks from within to retain control. Struggling to keep up. From Navjot Sidhu.

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