AMRITSAR: Acting jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh in his maiden message to the panth on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Diwas after taking over charge, expressed grave concern over alleged attempts to disintegrate panthic power under a well-planned conspiracy.The acting jathedar claimed that Sikh history and traditions were being distorted and the Sikh youths were being misguided under a deep-rooted conspiracy to break the panthic unity. The SGPC’s executive body had appointed jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh as acting jathedar of Akal Takht in October after jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh had tendered his resignation on October 18, citing poor health.Stating that killing of Sikhs in June and November 1984 was an unforgettable event, he said that the incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib were still going on. “Denying release of Sikh prisoners even after completion of their sentences and rise in crimes, including targeted killing of Sikhs in the country, have made Sikhs feel aliens,” he claimed while adding that successive governments, law of country and judiciary had denied justice to Sikhs and instead gave pain to the community.The acting jathedar’s message to panth is largely seen in context of SAD agitation against the state government for allegedly distorting Gurus’ history in Punjab School Education Board books and its failure to arrest the perpetrators of sacrilege.Expressing his views on social media, Giani Harpreet Singh said use of unparliamentary language by Sikhs while expressing their views about each other was indicative of downfall in morality. But at the same time he alleged that social media was being used by anti-Sikh forces as a tool for an attempted fratricide among Sikhs under some conspiracy. He also cautioned the panth to be aware of such forces and called for uniting the panthic forces ahead of the 550 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.Meanwhile, SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal said that a few forces were bent upon distorting Sikh history.Sarbat Khalsa supporters protestSupporters of Sarbat Khalsa appointed jathedars protested against the acting jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh and rejected his message given to the panth. A large number of supporters carrying banners of ‘Bargari Morcha’ stood up while a message was being given by Giani Harpreet Singh and raised slogans in praise of Sarbat Khalsa appointed jathedar of Akal Takht Jagtar Singh Hawara and acting jathedar Dhian Singh Mand. The protesters even flashed photographs of Hawara and also distributed copies of a message by Mand given to the panth as acting jathedar of Akal Takht in absence of Hawara, who is currently in Tihar jail.

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