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RSS concedes Sikhs have
separate religion and identity

This was announced in a joint communiqué issued by RSS leaders and members of the National Commission for Minorities in Delhi after a 60-minute discussion in the office of the Commission.

The change in the RSS stand is significant in the wake of strong protests by Bharatiya Janata Party ally, the Akali Dal, over the proposal of RSS volunteers in Punjab to celebrate Gurpurb (birth anniversary of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh) in Hindu temples.

The Akalis interpreted the RSS move as an attempt to dismantle the separate Sikh identity and assimilate it into Hindu religion.

President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (apex body which manages Sikh shrines) Jagdev Singh Talwandi had said that taking the Guru Granth Sahib (religious text of Sikhs) into Hindu temples went against Sikh religious traditions and people would not be allowed to do so.

Talwandi is a close associate of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, whose party is an ally of the BJP, both in Punjab and at the Centre.

RSS representatives M G Vaidya, Delhi chief Satya Narain Bansal and R P Singh who attended the meeting told newspersons, "Sikhs have a separate religious faith and identity."

However, they refused to entertain queries on whether the organisation had changed its earlier stand on Sikhs and if they would wind up the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, a sister organisation working with the community.

The leaders made it clear that the RSS had not permitted its members in Punjab to celebrate 'Gurpurab' in Hindu temples.

Also, RSS chief K S Sudarshan had never made a statement saying Sikhs were part of Hinduism, they said, adding his statements were misinterpreted.

On the other hand, NCM Chairman Justice Mohammed Shamim, who presided over the meeting, said they had discussed a number of issues pertaining to minorities with the RSS leaders and the deliberations were based on 'mutual respect and understanding of different view points'.

He welcomed the RSS leaders' response to the Commission's initiative for starting a dialogue with minorities.

Meanwhile, NCM Vice-Chairman Tirlochan Singh, who persuaded Akali leaders and the RSS to settle contentious issues, said the SGPC had also been consulted on the controversy.

He said the Commission would soon step up discussions with Christian leaders to remove misgivings between the RSS and the Christians.

Among other NCM members who attended the meeting were Shamim Kazim, Lt Gen (Retd) A M Sethna, Rev T K Lochen Tilku Rinpoche, John Joshep and Vijay Kumar Dar.

UNI

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