SFJ seeks Akal Takht’s blessings for its Referendum 2020

Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh’s ‘Khalistan’ comments, despite his belated attempts to clarify, seem to have encouraged Sikh separatists to seek his support for their cause. The US-based separatist body Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has urged him to perform ‘ardas’ on July 4, when it will begin voter registration for ‘Referendum 2020’ to seek people’s opinion on separate Punjab from rest of India.

The Sikh body has deliberately chosen the date, as it was on this same day in 1955 that police had arrested Sikh leadership demonstrating in support of Punjabi Suba. In a missive to the acting jathedar on Monday, SFJ’s Gurpatwant Singh Pannu urged him to perform ‘ardas’ at the Akal Takht on July 4 the in memory of the July 4, 1955 incident and on the day SFJ will open its voters registration in Punjab.

“SFJ is opening voter registration in Punjab on July 4, 2020, for non-governmental Referendum 2020 and we seek Sri Akal Takht Sahib’s blessings in this endeavour for Sikhs’ rights,” Pannu urged the acting jathedar.

 Sikh scholars here are of the view that acting jathedar’s and the SGPC president’s comments on Khalistan had given the Sikh separatists an opportunity to “rope in” Sikh religious leadership.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/sfj-seeks-akal-takhts-blessings-for-its-referendum-2020/articleshow/76394896.cms