Arrest those who published Class 12 book demeaning Sikh gurus: SAD

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Saturday demanded the arrest of all committee members who authored and passed the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) Class 12 history book with chapters allegedly demeaning Sikh gurus.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that five chapters in the book contained "derogatory" references to the Sikh Gurus as well as the 'dharmik granths' (religious texts) of Sikhism.

Badal said the book includes a reference to the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh claiming that he "looted a village named Alishan to show displeasure to Bhim Chand" while another chapter "distorted" the facts about the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev.

"Facts have been distorted to give the false impression that Guru Sahib (Arjan Dev) was just physically tortured, after his punishment was converted into a fine, and not executed by the Mughal ruler," Badal said.

The SAD demanded immediate withdrawal of the book while seeking action against PSEB Chairman Manohar Kant Kalohia, for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.

It also sought registration of a case against Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh who instituted the expert committee.

A resolution to this effect was passed at a meeting of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) members including its president Gobind Singh Longowal, legislators, district presidents and senior party leaders here.

Presiding over the meeting, Badal said it was "intolerable" that the Congress government had neither taken action as per provision of the law against committee members who had prepared the five chapters nor withdrawn the extremely objectionable book till now.

"Now we will not rest till criminal cases are registered against committee members as well as all others responsible for this grave sin against the Sikh community," he said.

Badal alleged that the matter seemed to be a part of "sinister attempt to distort historical facts" related to the Sikh Gurus and 'dharmik granths'.

He further said that the ruling Congress government was depriving the younger generation of the real knowledge about the history and culture of Sikhs by publishing "misleading and wrong" facts about the reigion in their history books.