| The Star | Malaysia | 21 Oct 2015 | Asia Samachar |
PETALING JAYA: For 40 days, Sikhs globally, including those in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia will be reciting prayers at 8pm every night to send a strong message of protest against the desecration of their holy scriptures in India.
This decision was made after several Malaysian Sikh organisations met on Monday night, and again yesterday.
Both the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (MGC) and Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (SNSM – the Sikh youth wing) chiefs said they were saddened with what had happened in Punjab and there was a need to demonstrate their dissatisfaction over the sacrilege of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, but believed in doing so in a peaceful way and through prayer.
Punjab has seen widespread protests after the tearing of pages of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scripture that is revered as a living Guru. Three people have been arrested.
“This act has upset the global Sikh community and the prayers are done for peace and harmony to prevail in Punjab,” MGC president Jagir Singh said.
“We started the “one million Chaupee Sahib Jaap’’ (recitation) yesterday at the Titiwangsa Gurdwara in Kuala Lumpur. On Saturday, from 6.30pm to 9pm, we will launch it globally from the Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya.
“We urge every Sikh to take part in the prayer no matter where they are every night,’’ SNSM president Pavandeep Singh said.
[This report appeared in The Star, the largest selling English newspaper in Malaysia, in both its print and online edition on 21 Oct 2015]
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