Press release By SCYS (Sikh Community Youth Service)
We are deeply saddened and shocked over the recent incident that took place in Vienna , Austria and subsequent rioting in Punjab , India and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends, of everyone who has been affected by this incident.
We would appeal to communities around the world to work together, in harmony to resolve this matter peacefully and uphold the honor of the Guru Granth Sahib. The rioting that has been taking place across Punjab and surrounding areas is causing a detrimental effect to all the communities residing in Punjab .
Tensions had been building up within the Ravidass community for a number of years, concerning the Sach Khand Dera (Monestary) and there anti Guru Granth Sahib practices. A few years ago, Sant Rama Nand, leader of the Sach Khand Monestary came to the Guru Ravidass Gurdwara on Union Road in Handsworth, Birmingham , UK . He was forced to leave by the majority of the congregation and management committee because the majority of the Ravidass community took objection to the presence of any Dera leader, sitting parallel to the Guru Granth Sahib, the present and perpetual Sikh Guru.
After this incident the Guru Ravidass Gurdwara in Handsworth mounted a plaque within the Gurdwara, banning any cult leaders from undermining the Guru Granth Sahib, with there ritual worshipping practices.
At this time Sant Rama Nand leader of the Sach Khand Monestary hired the hall at the Holyhead High School on Holyhead Road , Handsworth to hold a gathering for his followers because the Guru Ravidass Gurdwara congregation and management committee, would not allow the gathering to take place there.
It would be difficult for any community to allow cult leaders into there places of worship and allow them to undermine there religious beliefs. Similarly as in the incident in the Vienna Gurdwara, some members of the congregation were offended by the anti Guru Granth Sahib practices of the Dera leaders and this has led to this terrible tragedy occurring.
Some media reports have suggested that the incident at the Gurdwara in Austria were due to tensions between higher and lower castes. Within the Sikh community we do not have a caste system, however people from different ethnic backgrounds or regions are referred to as Bradrees. This is different from the Hindu community in which castes exist. Within the Sikh community the bradrees literally mean equality amongst all ethnic groups, therefore although people may be from different ethnic groupings, collectively they make up the Sikh nation and are considered equal, which is different from the Hindu caste system, where people consider different castes to be higher and lower castes.
However it is sad to see the Anti- Sikh agencies (operating for the Indian Government) have stirred things up to stir up Voilence and cover up the fact that the Sikh community was uniting to expose human rights violations by the Indian government.
