Amritsar, June 27: Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj has called upon the Uttarakhand government to initiate strict legal action against Uttarakhand Kranti Dal leader Ashish Negi following the circulation of a viral video containing highly objectionable and anti-Sikh remarks. The highest temporal seat of the Sikhs warned that such rhetoric threatens national peace and communal harmony.
In response to the escalating situation, the Jathedar directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to immediately launch formal legal proceedings against Negi in Amritsar. He asserted that ensuring the safety and dignity of Sikhs and Punjabi travelers remains the fundamental responsibility of the Uttarakhand administration.
Expressing his deep concern over recent developments, Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj maintained that the comments represent a deliberate attempt to incite communal division.
“Ashish Negi should not forget that he is openly challenging the Sikh community, whose sacrifices and martyrdoms played a major role in enabling the country to enjoy freedom today,” the Jathedar declared.
He added that if such hostile behavior continues unchecked, the community might be compelled to reconsider traveling to the hill state altogether.
The Jathedar further asserted that certain disruptive elements are repeatedly questioning the right of Sikhs to wear their sacred religious symbols, the Kakaars. He stated that local miscreants had first targeted pilgrims over their traditional attire before expanding the issue into a broader communal dispute. While advising the global Sikh community to remain cautious and refuse to succumb to any provocations during their journeys, he urged the state government to identify the perpetrators and enforce the law strictly to restore mutual trust.
