Amritsar: A Panthic gathering organised by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Sunday decided to share Akal Takht directives declaring Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann a “Guru-Dokhi” (Guru’ adversary) and “Khalsa Panth Virodhi” (anti-Khalsa Panth) at village level and among all Sikh institutions.The meeting, held at Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in Amritsar, called Akal Takht’s June 15 edict over a controversial video purportedly featuring CM Mann in acts hurting the sentiments of Sikhs as collective voice of the Panth. The gathering accused the Punjab govt and AAP of challenging Akal Takht instead of acknowledging CM Mann’s alleged mistake. “Such conduct not only hurts Sikh religious sentiments but also amounts to a challenge to the dignity and traditions of institution established by Sikh Gurus, which is unacceptable under any circumstances,” the gathering ruled. Addressing the Khalsa Panth, Sikh organisations, sects, gurdwara management committees, and Sikhs living around the world, the Panthic gathering alleged CM Mann had challenged the Sikh community through actions it described as anti-Panth. The gathering passed five resolutions — Akal Takht directives to be communicated to all Sikh organisations, Singh Sabhas, missionary institutions, and community societies, SGPC constituencies to inform local Sikh congregations about “conspiracies” against the community and formation of village-level committees of Gursikhs to promote awareness of traditions and customs. The fourth resolution appealed to the Khalsa Panth to understand what it described as conspiratorial motives behind the alleged misinformation and anti-Panth propaganda being spread against Sikh traditions and institutions through social media, print, and electronic media, while the fifth called upon all Sikh organisations, Akali groups, Sikh sects, Singh Sabhas, Gurmat Taksals, missionary institutions, and community societies to unite for progress, strength, and well-being of the Panth.
