crutch ceremonies; Sikh community in Canada demands 'Khalistan' from India

 crutch ceremonies; Sikh community in Canada demands 'Khalistan' from India

crutch ceremonies; Sikh community in Canada demands 'Khalistan' from India

LAHORE: Canada-based Sikh community has reiterated its demand for a separate homeland for Sikhs from India while hoisting Khalistan flags during Baisakhi celebrations.

More than 500,000 members of the Sikh community gathered in the Canadian city of Surrey to celebrate Khalsa Janma Day and Baisakhi. It is a very important festival for Sikhs. On Baisakhi Day in 1699, the tenth Sikh Guru Gobindji gave a new identity and name to the followers of Baba Guru Nanak.

Sikhs living around the world celebrate this day as Khalsa Janma Day, which is also the first day of the Desi calendar year. Khalsa Janma Day was celebrated on 14th April in Pakistan.

Many European countries, including Canada, celebrate Baisakhi with colorful processions and free food to the community, as service and langar are two important aspects of Sikhism. Women in bright yellow dresses stood on the sidewalk. The weeklong celebration in the Newton neighborhood of Surrey, southeast of Vancouver, included food, music, performances and speeches and decorative floats.

It is noteworthy that Canada has the largest number of Sikh immigrants and is also a stronghold of the Sikh struggle for a separate homeland called Khalistan.

Apart from this, Punjabi Sikh Sangat and Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee of Pakistan strongly condemned the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs in India, and demanded severe punishment for the accused.

Gopal Singh Chawla, head of the Punjabi Sikh Sangat, said that a man entered a Gurdwara in India with his shoes on and desecrated the Guru Granth Sahib as well as attacked the Granthis. This sad incident has happened in Gurdwara Kotwali Sahib of Morinda region of Indian Punjab.

It should be noted that many incidents of desecration of Sikh holy places, especially Guru Granth Sahib, have been reported in various states of India, but no accused has been punished yet.