National   

SGPC's appeal to Sikh institutions

Staff Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Jathedar Avtar Singh has appealed to institutions, especially schools and colleges, run by the Sikh community not to sing "Vande Mataram" on September 7.

In a statement, Jathedar Singh appealed to the community to sing the hymn, authored by Guru Gobind Singh, "De Shiva bar mohe eh, subh karman te kabhon na taron" (Oh Lord grant me this boon, that I may not hesitate from performing action).

He said India was a multi-religious and multi-lingual nation. Hence, imposing a song that reflected just one religion was bound to hurt the sentiments of the Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and other religious minorities. The "Vande Mataram" centenary celebration was a political move of the Congress to appease the Hindu community through a campaign in which public funds were being utilised. The entire effort would sow seeds of communalism in the national fabric.

Though the Shiromani Akali Dal led by the former Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, which controls the SGPC, has apparently stayed away from the controversy, the State unit of its alliance partner, the BJP, has announced a programme to organise a "Vande Mataram Shatabadi Yatra."

BJP `yatra'

According to party spokesman Vijay Sampla, BJP State president and MP Avinash Rai Khanna would lead the yatra, which would begin from Hoshiarpur on September 7 and terminate in Chandigarh on the same day. About 10,000 cassettes would be distributed as the procession made its way through Chabewal, Mahilpur, Saila, Garshankar, Samundra, Dhamai, Maunjari, Balachur, Kathgarh, Ropar, Kurali, Kharar and Mohali.

The Dal Khalsa, a radical Sikh outfit, has termed the "compulsory" singing of "Vande Mataram" as "cultural terrorism" sponsored by the BJP and its sister organisations.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Oil sector officers call off proposed strike
Sensitise the public: Manmohan
Teachers are builders of society, says Kalam
VHP issues call on `Vande Mataram'
Deoband: define `Vande' in `Vande Mataram'
Late admission of naxal threat: BJP
"BJP not an effective Opposition"
Saradgi to head office of profit JPC
Supriya Sule files nomination
Mumbai blast accused undergoes narco- analysis test
Parliament cannot sack members: Jethmalani
Rain compounds woes of people in Orissa
Bloggers' `unconference' to be held in Chennai
Portable personal computers target the movie-mad
Amitav Ghosh's novel to be made into a film
Raise utility of forest resources: Raja
Plan to promote sports through panchayats
Rural Health Mission to be evaluated
Meteorite fall in Rajasthan village
SGPC's appeal to Sikh institutions
Free insurance cover for tourists
ISRO, National Institute of Open Schooling sign MoU
Key Hizb militant killed
"Prosperity a distant dream for Bihar"
Wildlife Act comes into force
Do not focus on divisive issues, Milli Council tells BJP
Moradabad Mufti condemns Deoband
Little consensus on tackling naxalism: Raman Singh
More stringent laws needed to tackle naxalism: Chauhan
Bt cotton: notice to three States
Star India bags distribution rights

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu