SAD and SGPC begin 48-hour dharna against govt for 'hurting sentiments of Sikh community'

Before the sit-in, SAD activists gathered at Sri Akal Takht, the highest seat of Sikh religion, and offered prayers seeking speedy justice to the victims of 1984 riots.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) began a 48-hour dharna here on Thursday against the Congress government for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community by "denigrating" Sikh gurus in the newly published Class 12 history book of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB).

Before the sit-in, SAD activists gathered at Sri Akal Takht, the highest seat of Sikh religion, and offered prayers seeking speedy justice to the victims of 1984 riots.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal then led party leaders and workers to the Town Hall where they began their dharna, demanding an apology from the Congress government for "denigrating" Sikh history.

They also demanded registration of cases and the arrest of those who prepared and distributed the "distorted" history book.

The opposition party gave the government a two-day ultimatum to act against the guilty.

Badal alleged that it was clear that facts had been "distorted" in the history book as part of a Congress conspiracy to ensure future generations do not take pride in their heritage.

"This conspiracy has the blessings of the Gandhi family. We will not allow this to succeed...We will not allow anyone to use derogatory words against Gurus. We are ready for any sacrifice to protect the honour and dignity of Gurus and Sikh religion," he said, targeting Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

The SAD has alleged that the new book contained "distorted facts about Sikh gurus who were presented in a negative way and insulting words had been used against them".

Hitting back, Punjab Rural and Urban Development Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said Badal and SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal should first take action against distortions in history books published by the SGPC, the highest religious body of the Sikhs.

"It seems both Badal and Longowal are totally ignorant of even contemporary history, otherwise they would not have tried to make distortions in the textbook for Class XII, which has since been withdrawn, a political issue...Badal should have known that similar distortions had occurred in books published by the SGPC that too was withdrawn," the minister said in a statement.

Bajwa said the agitation by the Akali Dal and the SGPC was part of a sinister design to create disturbance in the sensitive state for "illusory political gains".

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had already directed PSEB to continue with the existing history textbooks of the year 2017-18 for Classes 10 and 12, pending completion of the review by an expert group.