PRESS RELEASE by the SIKH COUNCIL UK:
On the Sarbat Khalsa
10
November 2015
Sarbat Khalsa Sikh Council UK welcomes the Sarbat Khalsa
gathering that took place in Village Chabba, Amritsar, Punjab, India which was
attended by several hundred thousand Sikhs from across the world. This was the
first mass gathering of Sikhs under the banner of Sarbat Khalsa since 1986 with
attendance reported to be in excess of 500,000 Sikhs and during which thirteen
resolutions were adopted. The gathering appears to have concluded peacefully
despite the presence of large numbers of police and security forces across
Punjab and reports of state operated busses being withdrawn from operation.
Sarbat Khalsa is a centuries old process and tradition of consensus based
decision making by Sikhs based on the Sikh concept of miri-piri. It was extensively
adopted in the eighteenth century by the Sikh Misl leaders of the time who
gathered at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib in Amritsar twice a year at Vaisakhi and
Diwali.
Secretary General of Sikh Council UK, Gurmel Singh said, “The
re-affirmation of the sovereignty and independence of the Akal Takhat and other
Sikh institutions and the setting up of processes to discuss and review the
decision making processes in respect of these institutions as well as creating
a world Sikh parliament are truly visionary decisions and welcome to Sikhs
across the world.”
He added, “Similar proposals were discussed and put
forward at recent international gatherings of Sikhs such as the G20 World Sikh
Summit organised by the Federation of Sikh Organisations in the UK and attended
by delegates from countries across the world. Similarly Sikhs in North America
held a Panthic summit of over 100 North American Gurdwaras and Sikh
organisations and sent a delegation of five Sikhs under the leadership of
Harinder Singh of the Sikh Research Institute.”
He added “The Sikh Council UK
welcomes the call for a Sarbat Khalsa gathering during Vaisakhi 2016 and will
be playing its full part in participating in the discussions and processes in
relation to improving governance of existing structures and the establishing of
new structures.”
END
Notes
for Editors:
-
The
Sikh Council UK is an accord of Gurdwaras and Sikh institutions in the UK and
Europe.
- The Sikh Council UK is recognised as the national advocate for
British Sikhs and at the European Union
-
The
Sikh Council UK unites the Sikh community by providing a common platform for
Gurdwaras and organisations, whilst supporting and promoting their religious,
educational, welfare & charity, heritage and political objectives.
-
The
Sikh Council UK addresses Sikh issues and concerns with governments, agencies,
public and private sector bodies.
For further information, please
contact:Balvinder Kaur – 07867 608417 –
Gurinder
Singh Josan – 07967 680635 –
Sikh
Council UK Correspondence Address: P.O Box 16788, Smethwick, B67 9F
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