After Canada, peak Sikh bodies in the United States have said that several Gurudwaras in the country have banned the entry of Indian officials.
Following 14 Sikh temples of Canada, the Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (SCCEC) and American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (APGC) have claimed that 96 Sikh temples in the United States have passed a resolution to ban the entry of Indian officials.
The SCCEC and AGPC, who claim to be the largest organizations of Sikh temples in the US, have made this announcement with the support of US-based group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
SFJ Legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun told The Times of India, "We will also initiate legal proceedings against those Indian diplomats who will try to defy this ban."
UK Sikh Federation had reportedly called for a worldwide ban last week after some Sikh temples in Canada resolved to ban entry of all official visits by Indian government personnel.
The issue was also raised in the Indian parliament by Congress MP from Ludhiana Ravneet Singh Bittu.
Mr Bittu, speaking during Zero Hour of Lok Sabha, blamed separatist elements for the move.
“Khalistani elements are behind the decision. The government of India and state government of Punjab will not tolerate this,” he said.
However, a division was witnessed within the Canadian Sikh temple management.
Ontario Gurudwara Committee's move to bar Indian officials did not receive support from many groups, according to the Hindustan Times.
The Ontario Sikhs and Gurudwara Council discussed the issue last Saturday in Scarborough, a suburb of Toronto.
Council member Harbans Singh Jandali was also present at this meeting. He told the Hindustan Times, "We have not imposed any ban because this is not an issue for us."
Akal Takht in India has defended the move. Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh told The Hindustan Times on Monday, “The gurdwara bodies had a reason to take such step. After all, nobody can interfere in the affairs of any religion.”
“We enquired about it and found that there is no ban on paying obeisance, listening to Gurbani, discourse, kirtan, doing ‘Sewa’ (voluntary service) or partaking langar. That Indian officials have been disallowed from entering gurdwara, is misinformation”, he said.
“As far as the ban on certain activities is concerned, I will say it is the prerogative of the gurdwara managing committees whether they will allow someone to speak on the stage or not,” the head of the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, said.
Recently, a Scottish citizen of Indian-origin was arrested in India in November over his alleged connection with some killings in Punjab. A section of Sikh diaspora has been protesting against Johal’s arrest.
In November, last year, Indian high commissioner to Australia Mr AM Gondane was stopped from entering the Sikh temple in Melbourne by some protesting Sikh youths.
A Sydney-based filmmaker Harjot Singh, who is a devoted Sikh himself supports the move by Canadian and American Gurudwaras.
“Gurudwaras are a place of worship and there is no place for politics inside them. Indian officials use Gurudwaras as a platform to play political games. It should be stopped. So, I completely support the move,” says Harjot Singh.
But the opinion is divided in Australia too. Manjit Singh Sidhu, president of Victorian Sikh Association Inc. Australia does not support the ban.
“I have got no issues with any politicians coming to Gurudwaras. We all should live in Harmony. I do not support this move,” says Singh.
