Chandigarh: A ruckus has erupted over the statement of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh. He had said that every Sikh should carry with him a licensed modern weapon. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has taken a tough stand on his statement. Congress has called the Jathedar's statement dangerous and demanded his removal from the post.
It is worth mentioning that the Akal Takht is the highest religious institution of the Sikhs. In a video message on Monday, Singh had said, "Even today, especially Sikh boys and girls need to follow the orders of Guru Hargobind Singh ji. They should take training in Gatka Baji (traditional martial art), swordsmanship and gun fighting.'' Every Sikh should try to acquire licensed modern weapons in a legal manner because such is the time and such a situation is being created. Harpreet Singh said this while speaking on the occasion of Guru Hargobind Singh's Guruta Gaddi Diwas. Guru Hargobind Singh was the sixth Guru of the Sikhs.
Reacting sharply to Jathedar's remarks, CM Bhagwant Mann has advised him to avoid such messages. CM Mann tweeted, "Hon'ble Jathedar Shri Akal Takht Sahib Ji, your statement on weapon... Jathedarji, you should convey the message of Gurbani's Sarbat da Bhala to everyone instead of the message of possessing a weapon. We should replace the message of modern weapons with the message of peace, brotherhood and modern development.''
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