Akal Takht backs 'Sikhs are not Hindus' petition

AMRITSAR: Akal Takht, the top temporal seat of the Sikhs, today asked the members of the community to continue signing a petition 'Sikhs are not Hindus' till December 31.

All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) and the US-based Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) have initiated the process to file the online petition, and the Sikh organisations wish that US President Barack Obama would raise the issue of separate status of Sikhism with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to India next year.

Akal Takht's head Gurbachan Singh directed the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) to support the signature campaigns for the purpose to be held at Fatehgarh Sahib on December 26, 27 and 28.

Obama is likely to attend the Republic Day function as a Chief Guest on January 26.

Emphasising that an "amendment" in Article 25 (b) is "must as it clubs Sikhs with Hindus", Singh said the petition mentioning "Sikhs are not Hindus", and more than 1,00,000 signatures will be presented to Obama by AISSF and SFJ.