BATINDA — In a shocking footage, a video has come out where Sikh traditions have been mocked by fanatical Hindus by altering the wording of daily Sikh Ardas and replicating it to a Hindu prayer.
The anti-Sikh incident took place at Rampura Phulin Bathinda district during the new Akali-BJP Office inauguration ceremony by Sikander Maluka, Punjab rural development and panchayats minister.
Following bhog of Ramayana path, a replica ardas following similar pattern of daily Sikh Ardas was conducted. The video has a priest praying in the tone of Sikh ardas, making some Sikh references but also attaching names of Hindu gods. A number of turban wearing Sikhs could also be spotted at this event and none of them seem to have take any action to oppose this sacrilege.
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This is not the first time either. One wonders why the sacred tradition of the Sikhs is made the target by these people. There are never reports of anyone setting up replica of any other religious traditions.
Maluka could not be contacted as his phone was switched off after the issue gained traction.
COMPLAINT LODGED against Maluka
Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj, a resident of Mehraj village near Rampura Phul has also filed a complaint with the police against Maluka for “playing with Sikh sentiments”.
SGPC to probe
Taking “serious note” of the video clip, Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh directed Kirpal Singh Badungar, president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), to verify the clip and conduct a probe.
In a press note issued today, the Jathedar said the distortion of the “ardas” had hurt religious sentiments of the Sikhs. “This will not be tolerated,” he said.
Maluka said, “I did not know about the recitation of the ‘ardas’ as per Sikh traditions”. After the function, I enquired from the organisers about it. They said the ‘ardas’ was even available in written form.
His media incharge Ratan Sharma refused to accept that the minister desecrated the religion. A Hindu priest recited the sermon. The minister was one among hundreds of people listening to it. The ‘ardas’ was based on the translation of the Ramayana’s Awadhi version.
Manjinder Singh Sirsa, a spokesperson for the Shiromani Akali Dal, said, “The party condemns the incident. Desecration in any form is not acceptable to the Panthic party.”
In a statement, the jathedar termed the “imitation of Sikh ardas and using words from other religion” as “very unfortunate”.