Amritsar, May 5

The Akal Takht has taken note of the alleged discrimination meted out to Sikh youth hailing from hilly areas at the time of recruitment in the Army. It has sought intervention of the SGPC into the matter.

Akal Takht’s acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said turbaned Sikhs living in the foothills of Hoshiarpur, Mukerian, Tanda and Ropar had been subjected to discrimination in terms of relaxation in height criteria during recruitment in the defence services.

“We have received complaints that Sikhs who support turbans have not been given a special certificate of height relaxation by the authorities. Also, the certificate used to be issued under the name of ‘Dogra certificate’, which has now been changed to ‘Hindu Dogra certificate’. This is also objectionable. This discrimination needs urgent attention and the SGPC has been directed to carry out a probe and take action,” he said.

Meanwhile, Haryana Jannayak Janata Party’s state president and former MLA Nishan Singh appeared before the Akal Takht to seek an apology. He had equated the Dera Sirsa cult with Guru Gobind Singh in a video clip that went viral recently. Since he has submitted a written apology, he has been directed to hold ‘Akhand Path’ for atonement. —TNS