| Statement | Seremban, Malaysia | 7 March 2017 | Asia Samachar |
LETTER DATED 5 MARCH 2017 FROM GURDWARA SAHIB SEREMBAN ON ISSUES SURROUNDING TALK BY PROF INDER SINGH GHAGAA
WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH
RE – Incident at Gurdwara Sahib Seremban on March 3, 2017
We, the Gurdwara Sahib Seremban (GSS) Committee, would like to clarify on the misleading allegations made against us with regards to the recent talk by Professor Inder Singh Ghagga held at our premises on Friday, March 3, 2017.
Certain quarters have in recent days, been making repeated malicious and derogatory statements via the social media on the decision by the elected GSS committee to invite the above mentioned speaker for a talk here.
While we have also received loads of support from as many quarters, we feel compelled to reply to our critics who have been making false allegations and misleading remarks against us.
SEE ALSO: Seremban Sikhs stood their ground to allow Inder Singh Ghagaa to speak
Firstly, we would like to categorically state that Gurdwara Sahib Seremban (GSS) only allows Kirtan and Parchaar in line with Sikh Rehat Maryada (SRM) and Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (SGGS) in our Darbar Sahib. Whatever programme that is held in GSS is collectively decided by the committee around Gurbani Vichaar for the benefit of the sanggat. No Katha or Kirtan outside of SRM is allowed in GSS.
Secondly, there were false allegations being spread via the social media against GSS Committee before the programme. We were left with no other option but to restrict attendance to the talk following the violent incident at Gurdwara Sahib Ashby Road in Ipoh several days earlier. There, the planned session was disrupted resulting in the local Sanggat not benefitting from it and the Speaker was attacked with his turban removed and beard pulled in the Darbaar Sahib in full view of the Sanggat. This is clearly not within the practices of our faith or the teachings of our Gurus.
SEE ALSO: MGC: Inaccurate and deceptive statement on Ghagaa banned by Akal Takht
SEE ALSO: Group disrupts Inder Singh Ghagaa programe in Ipoh
Following the incident at Gurdwara Sahib Ashby Road, we as the GSS committee decided to take the necessary measures to prevent a similar occurrence at GSS. We will neither tolerate nor allow the sanctity of our Darbaar Sahib and the safety of our Sanggat to be compromised in any way or by any one.
As painful as it was, it was decided to bar certain individuals who were linked with the ugly incident in Ipoh from entering GSS. This was done with the intent to safeguard the safety of Sanggat, particularly women and children from violence that may have transpired. In fact, we had also been alerted that their only objective was to stop Professor Ghagga from speaking at GSS by any means possible.
The GSS committee had collectively decided to proceed with the talk which was based solely on Gurbani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji as per SRM. We always perform our due diligence to advise any Parcharak who comes to our Gurdwara to follow these rules. Therefore, by ensuring that only Gurbani Vichaar from Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji and SRM is allowed, we believe that no one should impose their beliefs on others through intimidation.
As for the alleged ban by Sri Akal Takhat Sahib on Professor Ghagga, we would like to mention that based on our own checks, Sri Akal Takhat had only issued him a SANDESH (not HUKAMNAMA) in 2006 after he made some errors in a book. Professor Ghagga was advised to correct them and duly complied. Since there is no HUKAMNAMA from Sri Akal Takhat, we found that there was no reason to ban him from our Gurdwara.
Thirdly, on the advice of the relevant authorities, a notice was placed at the entrance to the GSS clearly stating that this programme was only for the local Sanggat. Again, as stated earlier, the intent of this was solely for the safety and best interest of the Sanggat. It is the responsibility of the GSS Committee to preserve and safeguard the sanctity of SGGS Ji as well as to take necessary measures to safeguard the physical interest of the Sanggat. We would like to record our appreciation to our volunteers who stood their ground patiently although being repeatedly provoked by individuals whose sole intent was to disrupt this programme at GSS.
In conclusion, we thank Waheguru that the programme went on smoothly without incident.
However, it is our hope that the leading Sikh organisations in Malaysia would be able to collectively decide on issues affecting the community, for the sake of our current and future generations. Some of these issues have had serious implications and have divided us to the core. We can no longer operate as a fragmented society as this would be to the detriment of our Sikh community.
We trust that we have provided clarity to the Malaysian Sanggat with respect to the Committee’s decision to bar certain individuals from attending the talk at GSS. It is time for all Sikhs to close ranks and we sincerely hope our critics will now stop making unsubstantiated claims against us.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
The Management Committee, Gurdwara Sahib Seremban
5th March, 2017
[The above statement was emailed to Asia Samachar and had been confirmed by the sender organisation]
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
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