Amritsar- Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of British youth Henry Nowak and prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family to accept Almighty’s will.
The Jathedar said that a Sikh man, Vickrum Singh Digwa, has been sentenced to 21 years life imprisonment by a United Kingdom (UK) court in connection with Nowak’s murder case, and that the punishment was justified and in accordance with the law for the crime he committed. He emphasized that while it is necessary to punish offenders according to the law, however, attempts by certain forces to target the entire Sikh community over this incident, demand a ban on the Sikh article of faith, the Kirpan, and engage in politics driven by hatred or racism appear to be part of a deep-rooted conspiracy. He said the legal process in UK gave punishment to Digwa as it should, giving no special treatment to religious exemption, justice was delivered through rule of law and the Sikh community agrees with it.
He said that a major conspiracy is being hatched to defame Sikhs abroad by using this case as a pretext, and urged Sikhs globally to understand such wrong efforts. He also called upon all Sikh organizations in the UK to stand with Henry Nowak’s family and support them during this difficult time.
Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said that, according to information received through prominent Sikhs in the UK, the weapon used by the convicted individual in the Henry Nowak murder case was a Pesh Kabz, a Persian dagger and not the Sikh article of faith, the Kirpan. He stressed that according to Sikh principles, Sikhs legitimately wear the Kirpan to protect the oppressed and uphold justice, not to commit wrongdoing or injustice against anyone.
The Jathedar further stated that Sikhs around the world are a peaceful, united, and law-abiding community. Wherever they reside, they contribute to the progress and prosperity of those countries while working for the welfare of humanity.
Jathedar Gargajj noted that the Sikh community prays daily for the welfare of all humanity and has earned global respect through its service to mankind.
He said that the relationship between Sikhs and United Kingdom is not new but dates back nearly 200 years. Sikhs fought alongside Britain during the World Wars and contributed significantly to the country's development through their hard work and dedication. As a result, he said, Sikhs are accorded due respect and recognition by the British government.
He further stated that certain elements are attempting to exploit the Henry Nowak case for political gain by attributing the actions of one individual to the entire Sikh community. Jathedar Gargajj appealed to communities in the UK, the government there, and Sikhs to continue living together in harmony and to identify those who are deliberately trying to create divisions, damage communal relations, and spread hatred or racism.
The Jathedar said that the British government should keep a close watch on individuals and groups attempting to undermine social cohesion and communal harmony. He also appealed to media organizations and social media platforms to report on the matter based on facts and truth, rather than promoting hatred or prejudice against any community.