Day after a church was vandalized in Tarn Taran’s village close to the Indo-Pak border purportedly as fallout of “forced conversions”, the jathedar (head priest) of Sikhs’ highest temporal seat — Akal Takht — Giani Harpreet Singh has demanded an anti-conversion law in the state — a demand categorically refused by Punjab Government’s senior Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday.
“There is no need to bring in an anti-conversion bill. We will act using the existing laws. The opposition parties are using this to further their agenda,” said Cheema, the state’s Finance and Planning Minister.
Notably, the Akal Takht jathedar has warned the Sikhs over the alleged forced religious conversions in Punjab while asserting that the “time has come” that the community consider raising the demand for an “anti-conversion law” in the state.
“For the last few years, Sikhs are being misguided and converted to Christianity. If someone does politics on religion, a case is registered according to the Constitution of India. A few Nihang Sikhs were booked for trying to stop dancing on a stage. Wherever this pakhand is being done, the administration should intervene,” said Giani Harpreet Singh.
The Jathedar's remarks come days after some Nihang Sikhs were booked for allegedly disrupting an event organised by Christian missionaries in Amritsar.
“Time has come for the Sikh community to think about raising a demand for an anti-conversion law in Punjab. As such a situation is being created in Punjab, the Sikh community needs to think about it,” said the Jathedar.
The Jathedar claimed that the backward class Sikhs and Hindus of Punjab are being misled by the “Christian missionaries” who are forcibly converting them. “Such practices are being adopted, which even Christianity does not permit,” he said, while also blaming the State Government for not taking action against the alleged religious conversions.
At the same time, the Jathedar also stated that during a programme at Sri Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district on September 5, “a resolution will surely be passed in this regard”.
It may be recalled that four masked men allegedly vandalized a church in Thakarpura village of Patti town in Tarn Taran district on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. As per the CCTV cameras footage procured, the four masked men were seen entering the church building, and then pointing a pistol at the watchman’s head. They also tied up the watchman’s hands before vandalising the church. They broke two idols and also burnt the pastor’s car before leaving.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ordered a probe saying that no one will be allowed to disturb brotherhood and harmony in the state.
The incident came a day after the Akal Takht Jathedar and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami had condemned alleged efforts being made in Punjab for religious conversions by “some so-called Christian missionaries”.
They also demanded the withdrawal of an FIR against some Nihang Sikhs who were booked for allegedly disrupting an event organised by Christian missionaries at Daduana village in Amritsar on Monday.
Reacting to the development, Harpal Cheema said that there was “no need to bring an anti-conversion bill in Punjab”. He said: “Punjab is a secular state. It is the land of Gurus and there has not been a riot. Strict action will be taken against the culprits. Everyone is free to practice any religion. But no one should be coerced.”