TALWANDI SABO, Punjab—In a statement issued shortly after the Vaisakhi conference organized by the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and the United Akali Dal, Jathedar Baljit Singh Daduwal stated that he is determined to unite the Panth before Sarbat Khalsa later this year. Bhai Daduwal stated that the Sarbat Khalsa will take place on November 10 at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib.
“We will go to every corner in Punjab, join hands with every Panthik Jathebandi to make this year’s event successful. The Panth will achieve huge victory once we come together and join hands as one,” Bhai Daduwal said in his statement.
During the Vaisakhi conference yesterday, Bhai Daduwal said, “Our history is full of sacrifices. Guru Sahib always stood up against the wrong and did not refrain from pointing out the wrong and evil. If Guru Sahib had to address Babar as Jabar to tell him that he is oppressing innocents, Guru Nanak Dev Ji did so. Guru sahib faced immense torture, but never cared about oppressive regimes. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji asked for 5 heads and established the Khalsa Panth. This was a unique accomplishment.”
Bhai Daduwal spoke about various hardships that Guru Sahib and the Khalsa had to go through. He said such examples are endless. “Sikhs had to go through a lot to establish the Khalsa raj, to establish our Gurdwaras and the institutions we have today,” Bhai Daduwal said.
“However today, we are facing an oppressive regime once again. Our institutions are being destroyed. Sikhs who are revolting are being arrested and kept in jails. Several Sikhs remain behind bars even after years. Anti-Sikh organizations, are working hard to destroy Sikhi. In such harsh times, Sikhs must take every step with deliberation. Khalsa Ji, lets rise and take concrete steps to save our youth from apostasy and drugs. This is the only way the Khalsa will be in chardi kala. Let’s resolve to take amrit, only then will our celebrations of Vaisakhi will be worthwhile.”
The Panthik conference at Talwandi Sabo today was organized under the banner of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and had a much smaller gathering than the Sarbat Khalsa 2015 at Chabba village. Prominent organizations that had helped organize the Sarbat Khalsa remained absent. When asked about the gathering, Bhai Daduwal said, “There was a sizable gathering today, but no rally or conference can be compared to Sarbat Khalsa. We are working hard to achieve unity for Sarbat Khalsa 2016 and we will work with every Sikh organization and leader to bring them to one common platform.”
Bhai Papalpreet Singh told Sikh24, “The Punjab Government did everything in its powers to stop sangat from attending the conference today. Sangat had to walk at least 3 kms to reach the conference. There were celebrations all over Punjab and many people returned from Takht Sahib without being able to make it to [this] conference.”