Twenty prominent Sikh organisations Australia wide have strongly condemned the statements made by the National Sikh Council of Australia for misrepresenting and hurting Sikh Sentiments.
Those who have condemned the council included some of the largest and oldest gurdwaras, large religious bodies, mainstream awareness groups, sporting as well as representative Sikh entities nationally.
In what is the strongest backlash in more than a decade since the Council’s formation, many Sikh organisations felt “making arbitrary and sweeping statements without thought and wider ramifications does not serve Sikh interests. What is stamped deep in religion and history cannot be erased by personal and thought bubble momentary pronouncements” denouncing the Council asserting they have “no regards for Sikhi and [this] is an effort to confuse one religious thing with other unrelated issues”.
The twenty Sikh organisations are listed below with their statements attached:
- Turramurra Gurdwara, Sydney NSW
- Minto Gurdwara, Sydney NSW *
- Murwillumbah Gurdwara, NSW
- Craigieburn Gurdwara, Melbourne VIC
- Blackburn Gurdwara, Melbourne VIC*
- Keysborough Gurdwara, Melb VIC*
- Shepparton Gurdwara, VIC
- Canberra Gurdwara, ACT *
- Bennett Springs Gurdwara, Perth WA *
- AKJ Australia
- Damdami Taksal Australia
- Akaal Fauj Australia
- Sikh Federation Australia
- Sikh Volunteers Australia
- Sikh Samaritans Australia
- Super Sikh Sports Club
- Turbans 4 Australia
- Sydney Sikh Youth
- Sikh Kirtan Prachar Mission of Australia
- Sikh Sewaks Australia
* these organisations are those that are listed as members on National Sikh Council of Australia website.
Four members, most of whom were unaware their names had been published online as the Council’s members have demanded to be removed and disassociated immediately with one stating legal action would be instigated if they aren’t.
Some have stated “for some years now our organisation has never been informed of any meetings or AGM’s held by National Sikh Council. We have never been part of election of office bearers of National Sikh Council and have not been consulted on any issues”.
One member has sought clarification and an immediate apology or resignation. The main motive behind these actions is to “uphold and support the Sikh Rehat Maryada as listed on the SGPC website and would like to see that the joint body presenting the Gurdwaras should have an understanding of the Sikh values and code of conduct while refraining from giving divisive statements”.
The Council “should be banned from representing Sikhs and the Sikh Faith to immediate effect. Any leadership of Sikhs by them is false/fake and is hurting all practising Sikhs Australia wide”, as stated on letter by Sikh organisation (Link below).
These organisations are also seeking the “resignation from the position held by Mr Jagdev Bawa, Secretary of the Council immediately as he has issued many “unwanted communication” to mainstream Australia appearing in media (SBS, SMH,ABC, 2GB radio, etc.), community media, universities, government departments, parliament (submissions), with state and federal MP’s, community and business leaders professing that the Council is the “main”, “apex”, “peak” and “umbrella” representative body that “represents over 75thousand Sikhs” Australia wide circulated by them.
There is mounting pressure on members listed yet to withdraw to also immediately disassociate themselves as well as Sri Akal Takth Sahib to issue a strong order against the Council. There has been extensive global media coverage of the comments and emails distributed by the Council, only leading to more weight for accountability and correct Sikh principles.
LINKS to Statements provided by Gurdwaras: