AMRITSAR: The Istri Akali Dal, affiliated to the Shiromani Akali Dal, has threatened to strongly rebut the attempts by certain sections of Sikhs in not allowing women to perform “sewa”” (service) in the sanctum Sanctorum of Harimander Sahib during night hours.
A controversy on the issue had arisen on March 9 when some American women led by acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Prof. Manjit Singh tried to perform sewa in the sanctum Sanctorum and it was objected to by volunteers of the Sowa Society, which is entrusted with the job.
‘The very next day however, the SGPC president, G.S, Tohra had given an assurance that the SGPC would allow women to perform sewa. Prof, Manjit Singh had taken the stand that discrimination against women in this particular matter paints a distorted picture of the Sikh community and Sikhs should break the convention.
President of Istri Akali Dal Shavinder Kaur Johal told newsmen that they would take the issue to its logical end. She said the members sitting at the helm of affairs were still indecisive on this matter, The Istri Dal should send ‘a jatha into the Harimandor Sahib to perform “sewa” during night hours, Johal said it was unfortunate that volunteers of the Sewa society had raised slogans against the Takht jathedar in Harimander Sahib, She added that the Istri Dal had already taken up the issue of giving 33 percent reservation to women in the SGPC and one with the SAD president.
Johal said her unit would soon launch ‘a state wide campaign for complete prohibition of liquor, she also condemned the construction of a shrine at Mastuana on the pattern of Harimander Sahib and Akal Takht and said the Istri Dal would support any program of the party high command to counter the issue.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 20, 1996
