Punjab CM dismisses Akal Takht's claim on separate state for Sikhs

Dismissing Akal Takht Jathedar's June 6 remark that every 'Sikh wants Khalistan', Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said that nobody wants a separate state for Sikhs and every Sikh has always stood for the unity and integrity of the country.

Chandigarh: Asserting that nobody wants a separate state for Sikhs, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday dismissed a recent statement of acting Jathedar of Akal Takht that the Sikh community will accept Khalistan if the government offers it.

"Sikhs living in the country are leading prosperous lives. Why would they want a Khalistan? Nobody wants it and I do not want it," said Singh while replying to a question on Khalistan during a press conference here.

Singh said every Sikh always stood for the unity and integrity of the country. "Do you know how many Sikh soldiers we have? They sacrifice their lives for the country. We fight for our country and this is our country," said Singh.

On June 6, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had said, "The Sikh community will accept Khalistan, a separate state for Sikhs, if the government offers it."

Although days after making remarks, Akal Takht chief had said that the comments he made were misinterpreted.

Clarifying his stand, the Jathedar cautioned Sikh and urged them to be cautious and aware of such elements, who want to push Sikhs on the path of violence.

The Jathedar (head priest) of Akal Takht (the highest temporal seat of Sikhs) had raked up the Khalistan issue on the 36th anniversary of Operation Bluestar, which was carried out in 1984 to flush out heavily-armed terrorists holed up in the Golden Temple.

Even the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gobind Singh Longowal had also endorsed the Akal Takht Jathedar's views on Khalistan.

PTI