AMRITSAR SAHIB (March 21, 2015)—In a statement issued earlier today, appointed Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh said the following words regarding the status of martyrs in the Sikh religion -
“A martyr is one who sacrifices his or her life for the community. Many Sikhs have sacrificed their lives while punishing those who have attacked the Sikh Nation. Martyrs can’t be compared with murderers, as their action are for personal benefits.
Sikh History is full of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in defense of their sacred Gurdwaras and Sikh principles, without personal gains.”
While defending Sikh martyrs, Giani Gurbachan Singh was responding to recent call for boycott of the Nanakshahi Calendar by the Congress. The recently issued Nanakshahi Calendar became a hot topic after members of the Congress raised concern over the commemoration of killers of Indira Gandhi and General Arun Dhar Vaidya in the calendar.
Giani Gurbachan Singh said that the Sikh Nation is proud of its martyrs. He said that the Sikh Community can never forget the sacrifices of these Singhs, as they defended the Sikh Community from major threats by sacrificing their lives.
“SGPC and Sri Akal Takht Sahib will keep on paying tribute to these Singhs without caring of any opposition,” he added.
It is notable that the martyrdom days of Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh and Shaheed Bhai Satwant Singh are specified in the calendar. These Sikhs punished Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 for ordering the invasion of Sri Darbar Sahib. The calendar also contains names of Shaheed Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda and Shaheed Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukha.