CHANDIGARH, Punjab—At a press conference in Chandigarh on March 12, several Sikh leaders from various organizations revealed plans to establish an international helpline for Sikhs who are facing discrimination during air and road travel.
Global Sikh Council President S. Gulbarg Singh Basi and executive members S.Kirpal Singh Nijjar and S. Khushal Singh (General Secretary of Central Sri Guru Singh Sabha) stated that any Sikh facing discrimination would be able to immediately notify the relevant authorities in their respective country through the helpline.
President Basi also said that the biggest challenge for Sikh preachers abroad is the inability to speak foreign languages. He said that efforts would be made to provide foreign language training to Sikh preachers abroad. He added that Global Sikh Council organization was also willing to mediate disputes regarding the Nanakshahi Calendar to stop the Sikh community from bifurcation. He also said that the current Jathedars of Takht Sahibans were under political influence and that they needed to be neutral.
It was announced that the following individuals have been nominated to spearhead the council: Bhai RP Singh (Akhand Kirtani Jatha), S. Didar Singh Nalwi of HSGPC, Bhai Jeevanjit Singh of Central Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Bhai Maninder Singh, Bhai Kartar Singh Gill, Bhai Satnam Singh Paunta Sahib (Dal Khalsa), Bhai Mohinder Singh, Bhai Gurbir Singh, S. Gurpreet Singh, S. Surinder Singh Kishanpura, S. Gurbir Singh Machaki, Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema, Bhai Gursagar Singh, Bhai Davinderpal Singh, Bhai Rajinder Singh Khalsa, Dr. Birinder Kaur, Bhai Harpal Singh, and Dr. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.