Avtar Singh Makkar, President SGPC
Amritsar (Punjab): Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Avtar Singh Makkar on Monday courted a serious controversy by extending an invitation to Hindu Hindu students studying in the educational institutions run by SGPC to adopt Sikh religion.
His statement made in Amritsar was made in the back ground of SGPC decision to exempting the fee of baptised Sikh students studying in SGPC run education institutions in Punjab.
The statement is expected to draw flak from radical Hindu organisations who are fighting tooth and nail against conversions by christians through their education institutions.
Makkar said, "Sikh religion always welcomes all, whosoever willing to adopt Sikhism in his life and also welcome Hindu students studying in the SGPC educational institutions throughout the Punjab’. Hindus are a minority community in Punjab.
Makkar said that Sikh students studying in the SGPC run educational institutions would be rewarded with full fee exemption for the period of one year when they become baptized Sikh and started to keep uncut hairs of their body.
It may be mentioned here that SGPC throughout the State running more than fifty schools up to Plus Two level, two engineering colleges and two medical colleges.
Makkar said that SGPC has launched a massive campaign in Punjab villages to baprise the Sikhs. The SGPC campaign has picked up in wake of threat posed by dera Sacha Sauda. The Sikh volunteers in villages are allegedly forcing the dera followers to take "Amrit’ (a ritual to baptise) to adopt Sikh religion.
Meanwhile SGPC has also appointed Tarsem Singh as incharge of Delhi, UP and Rajasthan for the promotion of Sikh religion and to disseminate the message of Sikh religion.
Tarsem has recently resigned as a chairman of Delhi Gurdwara Dharm Parchar Committee, which is being head by the DSGMC (Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee) President Parmjit Singh Sarna.
Source:
http://www.punjabnewsline.com
