Sukhbir's Punjab Casino Plan Condemned by Sikhs
August 4, 2012
Author/Source: Sukhpal Kaur (Punjab NewsLine) and Hainder Singh (Sikh Siyasat)
CHANDIGARH, PUNJAB (PN) - Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s proposal to set up a Las Vegas strip like casinos near Ludhiana, has evoked sharp criticism from the Sikh community around the globe.
American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC) has reacted strongly and opposed Sukhbir’s proposal to open casinos in Punjab. Its head JS Hothi and convenor Dr Pritpal Singh said in a joint statement that the move is anti-Sikh and awful for Punjab as gambling is prohibited in Sikh religion.
“Sukhbir should not go ahead with such a proposal. This move is condemnable. We will soon write to Akal Takht Jethedar to take notice of this move as it is against the Sikh ethos and principles,'' they said.
“Sikh Gurus had clearly stated that the gambling is the worst habit which no Sikh should indulge in,” they further said, “if Sukhbir goes ahead with this proposal to generate revenue, we would oppose the move at every front.”
"The casino culture will bring more ills which are not acceptable to the Sikh society,'' said the US Sikh leaders.
“The state of Punjab is already facing menace of drug addiction. The political leaders are failing to protect the youth from falling to this evil and instead, they are introducing more evils,” they further added.
Ironically, the AGCP has opposed the move but Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) as well as Akal Takht, the temporal seat of Sikhs, have not issued any statement against Sukhbir’s proposals. Needless to say, inaction on part of the SGPC and Akal Takht is a mere reflection of the Badals’ stand on the issue as the father-son duo has direct control over SGPC’s working.
Lashing out at Sukhbir, spokesperson of Dal Khalsa, Kanwarpal Singh said, "What else can we expect from a person who had showcased semi- nude dance before opening of Kabaddi matches last year?"
Sukhbir had ordered the state’s infrastructure development agency, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB), to set up a Las Vegas strip-like casino at Mattewara village on the banks of river Satluj near Ludhiana.
"What else can we expect from a person who had showcased semi- nude dance before opening of Kabaddi matches last year?"
- Dal Khalsa
LUDHIANA, PUNJAB (SS) - Next to Hukka Bars in Punjab, the Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Badal has another proposal for the state – casinos. Allegedly aiming to boost tourist footfall, Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Badal is said to have ordered the state’s infrastructure development agency, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB), to set up a Las Vegas strip-like casino at Mattewara village on the banks of river Satluj near Ludhiana.
American Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee has sharply reacted at Sukhbir’s proposal of introducing Casino culture in Punjab. AGPC head Jaswant Singh Hothi and its convener Dr. Pritpal Singh said in a joint statement that the move is anti-Sikh and awful for the state of Punjab as the gambling is prohibited in the Sikh religion and Sukhbir should not go ahead with this proposal.
"This move is condemnable...it is against the Sikh ethos and principles."
- AGPC
“This move is condemnable. We will soon be writing to Akal Takht Jathedar to take notice of this move as it is against the Sikh ethos and principles,” they said, adding that the Sikh Gurus had clearly stated that the gambling is the worst habit which no Sikh should indulge in.
They also said that if Sukhbir goes ahead with this proposal to generate revenue, they would oppose the move at every front.
“The casino culture will bring more ills which are not acceptable to the Sikh society,” said the US based Sikh leaders, adding that the state of Punjab was facing the menace of drugs addiction and the political leaders are failing to protect the youth from falling to the evil and they are introducing more evils, which must be opposed.
Sikhs have to free Akal Takhat from Indian Government agencies and collaborators like Badal and this gang of Pujaris called Jathedars.
Our Punjabi culture's future is on line. Our youngsters have been drugged beyond my comprehension. I personally would like to see all the drug dealers to be hunted down just like a terrorist would be. It is destroying our Punjab. My question is, Is this deliberate to divert the attention of youth creating any future movements?