The Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on Monday, January 22, is expected to be missed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee member Harjinder Singh Dhami and Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, however, made it clear that he won’t be attending the consecration event. In 2020, the then-acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had skipped the bhoomi pujan ceremony at Ayodhya.
Harjinder Singh Dhami, the head of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, and Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh are probably going to miss Monday’s (January 22) Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.
Both leaders thanked Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for inviting them to the “Pran Pratishtha” ceremony in a carefully worded joint statement released by the Akal Takht secretariat, but they did not indicate that they intended to attend. Furthermore, no schedule has been released by the secretariats of the Takht and SGPC for their visit to Ayodhya.
Sukhbir Singh Badal, the leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), however, made it plain that he will not be present at the consecration ceremony. Giani Harpreet Singh, the acting jathedar at the time, had not attended the Ayodhya bhoomi pujan ceremony in 2020.
According to a statement released by the Takht secretariat, “We respect the beliefs of every religion as followers of the divine Gurbani and unique Gurmat philosophy blessed by the ten gurus, as advocates of inclusivity, universal communion and inter-faith harmony.” The statement went on to say that every religious group has a unique respect, resolve, and conviction for the sacred sites of their prophets and deities.
The invitation to the event was sent to the Takht jathedar and the president of the SGPC on January 10 by representatives of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, a branch of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sikh organization.
Sukhbir has made the decision to skip the Ayodhya ceremony, despite pressure from multiple Sikh organizations to do otherwise. The decision was confirmed by Daljit Singh Cheema, the party spokesperson. He said that in the near future, the chief of the Akali Dal would come to the temple to pay his respects.
Sukhbir congratulated the entire Hindu community on the Ayodhya event in a letter to trust general secretary Champat Rai. On the occasion of Shri Ram Janambhoomi Pran Pratishtha samaroh at Ayodhya tomorrow, the Shiromani Akali Dal extends sincere good wishes and heartfelt congratulations to the entire Hindu Bhaichara worldwide and pious inter-faith reverence. This is done fully in accordance with and total devotion and commitment to the high sacred principles, spiritual guidance and direction as enshrined in Jugo Jug Atal Shri Guru Granth Sahibji.
Initially, there was disagreement within the party regarding Sukhbir’s attendance at the ceremony. SAD should not participate in the ceremony because Sikhism forbids the worship of “idols,” according to Sikh intellectuals, think tanks, and radicals, while a section of the party wanted Sukhbir to attend.
