President of the Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Paramjit Singh Sarna, has written a letter to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressing concern over the alleged police high-handedness and harassment of Sikh devotees during the Hemkunt Sahib Yatra.
Sarna, in his letter to Dhami, said that for decades, lakhs of Sikh pilgrims have undertaken this sacred yatra with devotion and discipline. The relationship between the local population and Sikh pilgrims has traditionally been one of mutual respect. It is, therefore, distressing to witness reports and video footage suggesting that Sikh devotees have been subjected to police excesses, humiliation and discriminatory treatment following recent incidents in the Karnaprayag area.
Particularly troubling, he said, are allegations that Sikh youths were booked under serious charges without a fair and impartial assessment of the circumstances, subjected to custodial misconduct and publicly humiliated in a manner that caused hurt to Sikh religious sentiments. Reports concerning the handling of Sikh articles of faith have caused anguish among Sikhs across India and around the world. Such allegations merit immediate and independent examination.
Sarna said the Sikh Kirpan is not a mere accessory. It is a sacred article of faith protected under the Constitution of India. Any action that disregards this reality not only hurts individual devotees but also creates avoidable tensions within society.
Sarna requested Dhami to order a high-level and impartial inquiry into the conduct of police personnel involved in the incident.
He urged the Chief Minister to ensure that no Sikh devotee is subjected to harassment, humiliation or discriminatory treatment on account of his or her religious identity.
Sarna also asked Dhami to establish a dedicated grievance mechanism for pilgrims undertaking the Hemkunt Sahib Yatra.
He further suggested that the Uttarakhand Government engage with Sikh representative bodies and the management of Sri Hemkunt Sahib to ensure the safety, dignity and smooth movement of devotees.
