History book row: After Op Bluestar, it’s another attack by Congress on Sikhs, says SGPC

Claiming that the move to make changes in the Class-12 history textbook of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) is yet another attack by the Congress on Sikhs after the Operation Bluestar, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Monday gave a 10-day ultimatum to Capt Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government to undo the alterations.

Also, the committee members passed a resolution stating that if the government does not toe their line within 10 days, they will call a large gathering of all panthic organisations in the Golden Temple complex on May 19.

Chalking out the future course of action on the issue of alleged deletion of the history of the Sikh gurus besides other changes in the book, the SGPC members led by president Gobind Singh Longowal, its Dharam Parchar Committee (religious propagation panel) and the Sikh History Research Board held a special meeting at the Golden Temple.

Many of the 100 members who attended the meeting advocated tough stand against the state government on the issue. However, no SGPC member from the anti-Badal faction attended the meeting.

“The Punjab government has deliberately acted to alienate the Sikh youth from their unique identity, heritage and glorious history. It is highly condemnable and intolerable. First, the then Congress government at the Centre attacked the Golden Temple to inflict damage on the Sikh institutions and principles. Now, the Congress government in Punjab has inflicted damage Sikh institutions, culture and history by excluding the gurus’ history from the book. The forces behind this anti-Sikh move should be exposed,” the resolution read.

Making the resolution public, Longowal said the government should resume the earlier syllabus and rejected the apology tendered by the Capt regime on the issue. He also sought severe punishment for those involved in the change of syllabus.

Holding secretary education Krishan Kumar responsible for making the changes, Longowal rubbished the CM’s claim that the committee that made the changes was constituted by the previous SAD-BJP government. “Krishan Kumar took only two members from the previous panel on the new committee which made the changes,” he claimed.

He said the SGPC may also take legal action against those responsible.

He said the Sikh history should be taught from class first to post graduate level. “Boards of other states should also add Sikh history to the syllabus so that Indians could know the glorious history of Sikhs”, he said.

Appealing to critics within the community, the SGPC chief said nobody should indulge in blame game on the issue. He said they will also form a sub-committee that will help` review the books brought out by private publishers.

About some of the terminated employees who threatened to denounce Sikhism, he said, “How can they do the job of the SGPC who are ready to leave their faith?”