Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh has called on Sikhs to take state-of-the-art weapons training to protect themselves as crime is rising. He was addressing a gathering outside the Golden Temple where pro-Khalistani slogans were being raised.
Akal Takht chief Giani Harpreet Singh has stirred up a controversy by calling for weapons training for all Sikhs. The jathedar of the takht said Sikhs should start weapons training academies where people could learn to use state-of-the-art weapons.
Akal Takht is one of the five seats of authority for Sikhs. It is in the Darbar Sahib in Punjab’s Amritsar.
Giani Harpreet Singh was addressing a public gathering outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar where pro-Khalistani slogans were allegedly raised. The crowd also allegedly raised the demand for the release of Sikh prisoners.
Giani Harpreet Singh said: “Sikhs never got Independence. Attempts have been made to weaken Sikhs politically , economically and socially. There is a need to gain religious strength. The government did its best to contain Sikhs this time by deploying police.”
While highlighting that crimes were rising and that every religion had the right to protect its people, Giani Harpreet Singh said: “Sikhs should get state-of-the-art weapons training.” His statement comes just days after Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead.
The Union Home Ministry had offered to provide Central Reserve Police Force Z-security cover to Giani Harpreet Singh, but he had refused to take the same.