Rajasthan Govt Must Respect Sikh Religious Sentiments, Withdraw Case Against Bhai Timma: Sodhi, Pirmohammad

Former All India Sikh Students Federation leader and Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar-Surjit) General Secretary S. Davinder Singh Sodhi and S. Karnail Singh Pirmohammad have strongly condemned the alleged vandalism and sacrilege at Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Ji in Ganganagar and the arrest of Sikh leader Bhai Tejinderpal Singh Timma.

In a joint press statement, the two leaders alleged that the Rajasthan Police action at the gurdwara included vandalism in the Guru Ka Langar (community kitchen) and the tearing down of posters depicting Sikh figures, including Giani Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale and Bhai Amrik Singh.

Sodhi and Pirmohammad said such actions at a Sikh religious institution were reprehensible and had hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community. They maintained that any dispute could be addressed through legal and constitutional mechanisms, but police action of this nature at a religious site could not be justified.

The leaders also condemned the arrest of Bhai Tejinderpal Singh Timma, describing him as a popular Sikh leader from Rajasthan who had served the All India Sikh Students Federation and consistently raised issues concerning the Sikh community. They alleged that his arrest in what they termed a fabricated case was an attempt to suppress the voice of the Sikh community.

Calling for an impartial probe, the two leaders demanded that the Rajasthan government investigate the entire incident, take strict action against officials found guilty and immediately release Timma after withdrawing the case registered against him.

They said citizens belonging to all faiths have a constitutional right to practise and uphold their religious beliefs, traditions and the sanctity of religious institutions. Any discrimination or high-handedness against a minority community, they said, undermines the country’s constitutional and democratic framework.

Sodhi and Pirmohammad further said resentment was growing among Sikhs over the incident and urged the Rajasthan government to recognise its seriousness, release Timma immediately and apologise for what they described as an unnecessary and provocative action.

The statement was issued to the press by Media In-charge Tajinder Singh Pannu.