Situation remains tense in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as strike enters 4th day
Amritsar, Questioning the existing religious code of conduct (Sikh rehat maryada), the Damdami Taksal has called upon the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to end the confusion by evolving new framework acceptable to every Sikh organisation.
The resolution to this effect was adopted at a meeting of the preachers who follow the Rehat Maryada of Damdami Taksal which is different from the one prescribed by the SGPC.
They pointed out that the present Rehat Maryada was neither adopted by the SGC general house nor ratified by the Akal Takht and these were the recommendations by the committee set up for the purpose. This was clear from the Rehat Maryada published by the SGPC that has been in circulation all these years.
Gurnam Singh Bandalla, in his capacity as spokesman of today’s meeting held at Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj, said a section of the Sikh organisations were being blamed for not adhering to it while the fact of the matter was it was never approved by the SGPC general house.
Those who attended the meeting warned against the designs by some forces to divide the Sikhs on this sensitive issue and said it was for this reason that the SGPC must revisit this issue. they said these forces were cheating the Sikhs for some years in the name of Rehat Maryada having been ratified by the Akal Takht and creating divisions.
It was pointed out that the committee that had evolved this Maryada had itself noted that it was a draft that should be approved after consulting various Sikh organisations to make it acceptable to all. It was also stated then that the same should be approved at the general house of the SGPC but it was never done.
