Shaheed Talwinder Singh Babbar
Surrey, British Columbia (KP) – Recent developments in the Kanishka bombing case have once again come to haunt the Sikh Sangat based in Canada. Where parts of Canadian media based in Vancouver have shown increasing interest in mischievous activities to harm the Sikh community, the Canadian Government has however not been able to prove any kind of involvement of the acquitted Sikhs in the Kanishka case.
Due to malicious pressure, the British Columbia Government has once again been forced to carry out a futile inquiry keeping it from carrying out significant investigations to pinpoint the actual suspects of the tragedy. After receiving complaints from unknown sources, the British Columbia Government has decided to launch fresh inquiries to review the Canadian Singh Sabha organization and the Dashmesh Darbar Gurdwara Sahib of Surrey. The matter does not involve any type of suspicious activity though; the objection this time is based merely on the organizations allowing an ‘Akhand Path Sahib’ to be hosted.
Akhand Path Sahibs, or continuous reading of Guru Granth Sahib, are organized by private parties and individuals as a fulfillment of their religious duty. A Surrey based Sikh told Panthic Weekly over the phone that if the Canadian Government has objections to the Sikhs reading their religious scriptures, it is something we need to worry about. According to local sources based in parts of Vancouver, the Sikh community has been greatly affected by unusual interventions in its religious affairs.
The Canadian Singh Sabha, a registered organization of British Columbia, is being rounded up for letting a family close to Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar (Parmar) hold an Akhand Path Sahib in his memory. What harm could be provoked from the reading of religious scriptures which promote peace and speak of love for all? As an integral part of Akhand Path Sahib, Sikhs perform ardas, or prayer, for well-being of all, regardless of race, religion or creed.
Not very long ago, the name of Dashmesh Darbar ended up in ineffectual debates after it allowed private parties to rally floats with pictures of Sikh Shaheeds. Just as in Christianity and Catholicism, the martyrdoms of Jesus Christ and Christian saints are highly esteemed; Sikhs also dignify all those martyrs who gave up their lives for the sake of Sikh Nation. The Sikhs only exist today because those countless hundreds of thousands gave their lives selflessly. The ardas also emphasizes that every Sikh contemplate the lives of martyrs.
The leaderships of Canadian Singh Sabha and Dashmesh Darbar have however not shown any resistance to Government inquiries and have also offered their cooperation. Joginder Singh Sidhu, president of Canadian Singh Sabha condemned the Kanishka bombings and all acts of violence. However, alleged Mr. Sidhu, no Sikh could be barred from organizing Akhand Path Sahib or other religious prayers. To bar Sikhs from their religious rights is not only against the tenants of Sikhism, but is also against the law, which allows freedom of religion.
In a press note signed by Joginder Singh Sidhu, as President of the Canadian Singh Sabha, he openly condemned the Air India bombing and also hoped that the Air India Commission of Inquiry will soon be able to provide answers to ‘heal’ the affected families. Mr. Sidhu also said that the wrongful taking of any life is reprehensible.
