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Sikh bodies seek removal of Josh from NCM 03/20/2006 http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060320/punjab1.htm
Amritsar, March 19 Talking to The Tribune from New Delhi on telephone today, Mr Josh said he would decide whether to appear or not before Akal Takht only after receiving summons to be issued by the Sikh clergy. He reiterated that the Sikhs were part of the Hindus as they still enjoyed common culture. While spokesman for the Dal Khalsa Bhai Mohkam Singh urged Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti to summon Mr Josh at Akal Takht for his alleged ‘irresponsible utterances’ and ‘excommunicate’ him from the Panth, Mr Parmjit Singh Sarna, president, Delhi Akali Dal, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta and Mr Harinderpal Singh, both SGPC members, demanded his immediate removal as a member of the NCM. They said Mr Josh should either step down or the Central Government should remove him from the NCM. Mr Sarna said if Mr Josh wanted the ‘assimilation’ of the Sikhs into the majority community then he had no moral right to continue as a member of the NCM. Mr Calcutta, who is also the patron of the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD), deplored the nomination of Mr Josh to the NCM saying he did not know the basic tenets of the Sikhism. He also expressed concern over the honour bestowed by the CKD and other Sikh organisations on Mr Josh without knowing his credentials. However, reiterating his utterances that “Sikhs are part of Hindus”, Mr Josh said there were many families where one brother was Hindu and another a Sikh. The Hindus and the Sikhs were inseparable, he said. He said marriages between the Hindus and the Sikhs were common, which was a symbol of common cultural ties between the two communities. However, to a pointed question, Mr Josh denied that he was ever deputed by the Congress to justify the Operation Bluestar in 1984 in the foreign countries. However, the spokesman for the Dal Khalsa said the Sikhs hold the Hindus in high esteem like other faiths and communities but it was wrong to dub them as part of the Hindus. He threatened to mobilise Sikh masses to enforce the removal of Mr Josh if he failed to apologise. Sikhs part of Hindus: Josh They said Akal Takht and the SGPC had already acknowledged that the Sikhs enjoyed a ''distinct and separate'' identity and Mr Josh had no right to question the same. Though Mr Josh had breakfast with Jathedar Vedanti at his residence here today and held a marathon meeting with the SGPC chief, both have announced that they will not hold any more meeting with him (Mr Josh) till he withdrew his controversial statement. Mr Josh had stated that it was only a turban that distinguished a Sikh from a Hindu. He claimed that the Sikhs came from the same 'Hindu culture' and they should admit this fact gracefully. ''Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed for whom?'' he asked. He said the Sikhs should not deny the facts that they were baptised to protect the Hindus - their brethren -from the Mughal tyranny. He, however, advocated for a separate Anand Karaj Act for the Sikhs. He also assured that the NCM would endeavour to bring back the 'blacklisted' Sikh youths who wanted to join the mainstream of the country. Earlier, the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) honoured Mr Josh on his appointment as member of the NCM. Mr Charnjit Singh Chadha, president of the CKD, and other members of the organisation were present on this occasion. The SGPC chief said Mr Josh was nominated being member of the Sikh community and hence his "irresponsible statement" amounted to his disqualification. He said Mr Josh's statement showed that he wanted to watch the interests of the majority community instead of the minority. Peeved at the controversy, Mr Tarlochan Singh, former Chairman of the NCM, said Mr Josh must understand that the Sikhs had a separate religion and identity. He said during his stint as Chairman of the NMC, he had arranged written statements from Mr K. Sudarhsan, RSS chief, and Mr Ashok Singhal, VHP leader, that Sikhs enjoyed a separate identity. He said he had now moved the Lok Sabha to amend Article 25 of the Indian Constitution that equated Sikhs with Hindus. Mr Josh has had stint as general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress and was considered a confidant of Sanjay, younger son of Ms Indira Gandhi. To a pointed question, Mr Josh admitted his Congress background and said that at one time he cropped differences with Sanjay Gandhi and joined the Congress group led by Mr Swarn Singh, the then Foreign Minister. Note: Comments do not represent the views of SikhNet. Comments containing profanity, provocation or slandar will be removed by the moderators.
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