Giani Gargajj Rebukes Bains, Launches Drive to Reverse Religious Conversions

On 28 Mar, Panjab Education minister Harjot Singh Bains raised the issue of the removal of three Jathedars (leaders) of the Takhts (thrones) in the Panjab Assembly. On 13 Apr, Bains attended the Vaisakhi (harvest festival) program at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib where he had an exchange with Akal Takht’s (Eternal Throne; AT) officiating Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargajj. On 14 Apr, Gargajj said, 'If Harjot Singh Bains considers himself a part of the panth (Sikh Collective), he should understand the appropriate forum for raising panthic issues.' Gargajj also said Bains should focus on resolution of Sikhs issues and should not interfere in the internal affairs of the Sikhs. On 14 Apr, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also paid his respect at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib on the occasion of Khalsa Sajna Divas (Inauguration of the Khalsa) and met Giani Gargajj. Giani Gargajj urged the Haryana CM Saini to take steps to promote Panjabi by appointing employees who could read and write Panjabi. CM Saini announced a Sikh museum will be established in Kurukshetra. The previous BJP CM of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar had also promised a Sikh museum at Kurukshetra before the state assembly elections in 2019. Meanwhile, on the occasion of Khalsa Sajna Divas, speaking at Naka Hindola Gurudwara in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh BJP CM Yogi Adityanath voiced serious concern over rising incidents of religious conversion in Panjab and the Terai region. For the last few years, religious conversions to evangelical Christianity by pastors have been gaining traction in Panjab. On 15 Apr, Giani Gargajj and Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Tek Singh launched the Khwar Hoye Sab Milenge (frustrated, all will unite) drive to reverse the rising trend of conversions. The apostolic administrator of Jalandhar—the Catholic diocese that covers Panjab—Bishop Agnelo Rufino Gracias, supported the drive saying these neo-Christian groups, their ministries, have damaged the reputation of mainline churches like the Catholic Church (earlier coverage).