Dr Charanjit Singh Atwal
Chandigarh, April 3, 2020: Former Vidhan Sabha Speaker Dr Charanjit Singh Atwal today said the entire Mazbhi Sikh community was insulted by the denial of cremation to renowned Kirtaniya Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa at Verka and that the Punjab government should have taken appropriate steps to ensure the mortal remains of the great ‘ragi’ were not disrespected in this manner.
In a statement here, Dr Chararnjit Atwal said it was unfortunate that the State machinery had allowed ‘manuwadi’ repressive thought to prevail and disrespect the first Kirtaniya in the Sikh community to be awarded the Padam Shri in the country. “It is doubly condemnable that the State government did not cremate the mortal remains of Bhai Khalsa with full State honours as he deserved considering his service to the Sikh community and Punjab”.
The former Speaker asked the State government to apologize to Bhai Khalsa’s family for the treatment meted out to his mortal remains and issue strict directions to ensure nobody was discriminated on caste lines in such a manner again. “Such incidents wipe out decades of progress made by the Dalit community. We should ensure they do not occur again”.
Dr Atwal urged Punjabis to understand the nature of the COVID-19 virus and not to spread any false humours which would lead to social ostracism of its victims and ill treatment of their moral remains after death. He also urged Punjabis to observe the current lockdown strictly to counter the spread of Caronovirus.