 | Akal Takht diktat against same- marriages
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050117/punjab1.htm#1
Amritsar, January 16
Denouncing the practice of same- marriages, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti,
Jathedar of Akal Takht, has, in his directive, urged the Sikh sangat not to
allow the holding of such ceremonies in any gurdwara of the world.
Taking serious view of the proposed move of the Government of Canada to
introduce same- marriage bill in the House of Commons, he described it as
‘anti-Gurmat’ trend that had no place in Sikhism. The directive, the first
of its kind, has been issued under the seal of Akal Takht.
The directive reads that the rising trend of same- marriages in western
countries was a matter of concern. The move of certain countries to give legal
accordance to such marriages had already initiated a worldwide debate. He said
Sikh code of conduct did not allow such marriages.
A same- marriage in Amritsar had already hit the newspapers headlines.
Jathedar Vedanti said the idea of same- marriages originated from sick
minds. The trend needed to be curbed, he said. He urged the Sikh sangat to seek
guidance from Guru Granth Sahib and act as per the Sikh philosophy to stop such
anti-human tendencies.
The issue of same- marriages has become a hot issue in Canada these days
where a large number of Sikhs are settled. The cancellation of the visit of
Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Paul Martin, to Amritsar for paying obeisance at
the Golden Temple is being attributed to this controversy.
While, former Premier of British Columbia and Federal Minister Ujjal Dosanjh,
who was to accompany Mr Paul Martin to Amritsar, had stated that the Canadian
Government was committed to allowing same- marriages, Mr Gurmant Grewal,
three-time member of Canadian Parliament, held that in 1998, the House of
Commons had said that the traditional definition of marriage, meaning that it
was between a man and a woman, should be retained.
There are six Sikh Members of Parliaments in Canada who had taken diametrically
opposite stand on the issue. SGPC’s general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur had
already urged the Sikh MPs to rise above petty politics and take stand as per
the Sikh maryada.
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