Curb casteism in gurdwaras, BJP asks Takht

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 23

Union Minister and state BJP chief Vijay Sampla today asked Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to initiate steps to curb casteism, particularly against Dalit Sikhs in village gurdwaras.

In a letter to the Jathedar, Sampla said: “Discrimination with Dalits in Punjab continues unabated, with upper caste or powerful people ostracising them from society. Dalits are forced to have separate gurdwaras and even separate cremation grounds. They are refrained from entering gurdwaras at certain places. Recently, a Dalit man of Maanwala village in Dhuri was stopped from performing the last rites of his mother in the village gurdwara. A similar incident was reported from Barsalpur village near Chamkaur Sahib.”

In the letter, Sampla said, “Guru Nanak opposed caste discrimination. He talked about equality and love. Certain powerful sections of society in Punjab’s villages are hell-bent on dividing the Sikh fraternity and hurting religious sentiments.”