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HS Phoolka strongly objects to Jathedar Akal Takht's Hindu-Sikh statement, writes letter
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, September 22, 2021: Senior Advocate Harwinder Singh Phoolka strongly objects to the statement of Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib In which the Jathedar had said that it does not matter whether the Chief Minister is a Hindu or a Sikh, he should be good.
Phoolka has written a letter to the Jathedar in this regard asking him to stay away from politics. He said that it is not the place of Akal Jathedar to give statements on political matters that can be used by any political parties for their vested interest.
“I request Jathedar not to comment on such political matters that concern the peace and harmony of the state and also rights of Sikhs,” he said.
In the letter, he also took a dig at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for changing their stand that only Sikh will be the CM of Punjab.
Commenting on the matter, Akal Takht Jathedar was quoted telling the national daily Indian Express that “Behtar insaan hona chahiye (should be a good person), achchai pehle number pe (human goodness is the primary consideration). Sikh hona ya Hindu hona secondary hai (whether Hindu or Sikh is secondary).”
“For many, though, “face matters”. “A Sikh CM matters for the aam public… speaks of Punjab’s pehchaan (identity)… just as Hindus take pride when (one among them) does well in the US (politics)…”,” he was quoted saying.
“Speaking on CM being a good person, I personally believe that Sunil Jakhar who was also in the race for CM post is a better person than Sukhbir Badal and in time would do more for the people but here we are not talking about who is right or not but it's a matter of tradition of Sikh being a CM for Punjab,” said
He also praised senior Congress leader Ambika Soni for issuing a statement that only Sikh will be the CM of Punjab.
“Ambani Soni showed a lot of maturity in the matter. She knew that Akali Dal would have used it as an opportunity to create an atmosphere of mistrust among different segments for the party. Akali Dal would have blamed the Congress for taking aways the right of Sikhs by making a Hindu a CM of Punjab,” HS Phooka said.
He said that due to Kisan Andolan there is already a lot of tension in the state, appointment of Hindu CM by Congress would have only escalated the matter.
“We have already witnessed that Akali Dal can go to any extent to fulfill its vested interests. In the last election when they had sided with Gurmeet Ram Ram Rahim and were behind the sacrilege incidents. I don't understand what's their intentions are this time,” he said.
Read complete letter of HS Phoolka to Akal Takht Jathedar:
Jathedar Sri Akal Takhat Sahib,
Amritsar.
Subject: Your statement about the Chief Minister of Punjab.
I read your statement in the newspapers in which you said that it does not matter whether the Chief Minister of Punjab is a Hindu or a Sikh. I was very surprised to read this. If the Sikhs were to adhere to this principle, ask Sardar Parkash Singh Badal why he then sent thousands of Sikhs to jails to create a Punjabi state. Earlier our big Punjab used to go to the roots of Delhi. After fighting such a long battle and sending the Sikhs to jails, the Akali Dal created a state in which only half of the old Punjab remained. Its sole purpose was to become a Sikh-majority state.
Earlier in the old Punjab, sometimes Hindu Chief Minister and sometimes Sikh Chief Minister were appointed. Despite this, the Akali Dal demanded a separate state in 1966 to make it a Punjabi state. Now today the Akali Dal is supporting your statement.
The Akali Dal had demanded that it would be the only Sikh state in the world. In which only the Sikh face will become the Chief Minister. After 1966, no party came to power in Punjab but the face of the Chief Minister remained Sikh. When there was a Hindu Chief Minister in the old Punjab, the Akali Dal sent Sikhs to jails with the slogan of Panth Khatra. Is there no such conspiracy of Akali Dal even now? That if any party makes a non-Sikh face the Chief Minister of Punjab and the Akali Dal Panth starts chanting slogans of danger again.
The Akali Dal wants to show itself that only the Akali Dal can fight for the rights of the Sikhs and the Sikhs are not safe under the rule of any other party. To show this, even if the Akali Dal has to demand peace in Punjab, they can do anything to win the elections. Like last time they even got Guru Sahib disrespected to win the elections.
As Jathedar Sahib of Akal Takht, your statement on this political issue was pointless. This is the job of political parties. Your statement in the newspapers is being taken to mean that the Sikhs have given up the right of the Sikh Chief Minister of Punjab. It is important to reconsider this statement. . As the leading body of Sikhs, it is your duty to take into account the views of all Sikhs and decide what the Sikhs want. It is only after taking all these considerations that a conclusion can be reached. Don't let any political party make a non-Sikh Chief Minister thinking that the Akal Takht has no objection to your statement and then start chanting slogans that the Panth is in danger or The Panth has been demolished, under this pretext conspiracies to disturb the peace of Punjab should be started.
Harwinder Singh Phoolka (Senior Advocate)
Also Read: Sunil Jakhar commends Akal Takht Jathedar take on ‘Only Sikh CM’ for Punjab