Sikh Youth of Punjab kicked off the Khalsa Sajna Diwas preparations in the land of the birth of the Khalsa –Anandpur Sahib by launching the original Nanakshahi Calendar 551 and distributing it to the Sangat gathered in thousands to celebrate the Baisakhi Purab.

Sikh Youth of Punjab –SYP has been upholding the cause of the genuine Nanakshahi calendar for the last many years. SYP activists and followers stick to celebrating Sikh historical and religious events also according to this calendar.

In a spirited move, to commemorate the Khalsa Sajna Diwas, SYP activists unfurled the Khalsa flag symbolizing Sikh sovereignty.

While the Sikh world is making preparations all around the globe to celebrate 550 years of Guru Nanak –the founder of the Sikh religion, the community and its leadership has not been able to accept one calendar.

“We are determined to restore the Nanakshahi calendar to its pristine glory.”

Paramjit Singh Mand, President, Sikh Youth of Punjab

Amidst the confusion that has been set up by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in 2010, many Sikh bodies in Punjab including the Sikh Youth of Punjab and the Panthic Coordination Committee and the Diaspora, especially Gurdwaras in Chicago, USA, are holding aloft the genuine Nanakshahi Calendar as prepared by Canada- based Calendar specialist Pal Singh Purewal, accepted by the SGPC general house and ratified by the Akal Takht Sahib in March-April 2003.

“We are determined to restore the Nanakshahi calendar to its pristine glory, said SYP president Paramjit Singh Mand. The calendar was dedicated to 550^th anniversary of Guru Nanak and was released after performing Ardas at Takhat Kesgarh Sahib.

Talking to the media, he said, “Nanakshahi Calendar is a manifestation of the distinct identity of the Sikhs. The SGPC amendments are an abject surrender to forces who have made inroads into the Sikh religious set up.”

Addressing the Sikh youth gathered for the event, Paramjit Singh Mand criticised the state government for detaining and framing Sikh youth on flimsy grounds, in the name of neutralizing the Referendum 2020 campaign. “Seeking referendum isn’t a crime, rather it is peaceful and democratic method to resolve conflicts,” said he.

Touching the resurgence of the Dera Sauda followers in the Malwa region of Punjab, with full state patronage, Gurnam Singh, vice-president of SYP said “disrespect and desecration of Guru Granth Sahib continues till date. Sikhs are emphatically opposed to all schismatic groups that were underscoring the fundamentals of Sikh religion in a silent and systematic manner.”

“Disrespect and desecration of Guru Granth Sahib continues till date. Sikhs are emphatically opposed to all schismatic groups that were underscoring the fundamentals of Sikh religion in a silent and systematic manner.”

Gurnam Singh, Vice-President, Sikh Youth of Punjab

Referring to Barghari sacrilege and Behbal Kalan incident, SYP leaders said the Election Commission of India has grossly erred in removing the key investigator IG Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh from the investigating panel. “He needs to be reinstated immediately so that the investigation into the sacrilege and police firing should not get derailed or scuttled”.

Anandpur Sahib, 14 April 2019, WSN Punjab Bureau