Akal Takht acting Jathehar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj today sought to distance the ‘Sikh panth’ religious ceremonies from the official ceremonies being organised by the Punjab government to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh Guru — Guru Teg Bahadur — at Shri Anandpur Sahib.
The acting Jathedar, in an informal conversation with The Tribune, today, asserted that the government functions were different from those being observed by the ‘Sikh panth’.
He noted that while the government functions were being held between November 23 and 25, the Sikh panth will observe complete one week from November 23 to 29, to commemorate the closing ceremonies with the day when the ninth Guru was cremated at Sri Anandpur Sahib.
He also said that religion was one’s own choice and conversions were repression and the human rights were violated.
“Choosing a religion is one’s own choose and anything must not be imposed by any state,” said Jathedar who was in the city to attend a seminar held to commemorate the 350th Martyrdom day of the ninth Guru at Guru Nanak Engineering College here.