AMRITSAR: Chairman National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, senior Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader and former minister Vijay Sampla met Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Sibgh and discussed the issue of discrimination against Dalit Sikhs in Doaba.
Even today Dalit Sikhs are not allowed to enter the temple and even carrying the Bir of Sri Guru Granth Sahib to their homes for religious ceremonies is not allowed to complete the religious rituals due to which Dalit Sikhs are engaged in conversion (Christianity).
The Chairman of the Commission . Vijay Sampla had a one hour discussion with Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib at the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib.
They are not allowed to go to the Guru's house and are not allowed to take the Bir of Sri Guru Granth Sahib to their house to perform any kind of religious rites.
Sampla said that Jathedar Sahib listened to him in detail about the whole problem and assured that he would take immediate action.
Earlier, Sampla paid obeisance at Sri Darbar Sahib and received Guru Sahib's blessings.
Some time ago, when some Sikh youths were meeting with some religious leaders of Bhagat Ravidas sect at a gurdwara in Austria, a religious leader was killed which caused a lot of trouble in Doaba and the then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also apologized to the Dera forces.
After this, a scholar belonging to Bhagat Ravidas Samparda took out the verses of Bhagat Ravidas Ji from Sri Guru Granth Sahib and led a Granth named Amrit Granth.
He was seated in various temples of Bhagat ji and the Birs of Sri Guru Granth Sahib were paid from those temples. Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib in those days, some former senior government officials belonging to the Bhagat Ravidas sect apologized and said that Guru Ravidas Ji should not be looked down upon at any cost. Maybe because today when the entire universe bows down to Guru Granth Sahib, there along with the rest of the Gurus, Guru Ravidas Ji also bows down in the form of Guru.
He had assured the Jathedar Akal Takht that he would soon explain to some erring brothers but the concern expressed by Sampla was indeed a matter of concern.
It is to be mentioned that due to the alienation of Sikh religious leaders in the border area also a large number of people belonging to the Dalit community are becoming Christians and Sikh religious leaders are having fun under the shadow of bayonets.
It remains to be seen whether Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh will now be able to play a constructive role or not, only time will tell but there is little hope as those who are more literate will only be rich on stage. There are people who hope to do something practical.