Amritsar-Professor Sarchand Singh Khiala, spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party Punjab, stated that the founder of Sikhism, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, established a great tradition of dialogue which inspires us to engage with every religion, every ideology, and every individual with an open mind. Sadly, today we seem to be drifting away from this tradition, and our thinking appears to be caught in the trap of narrow-mindedness.
Referring to the recent controversy regarding Guru Nanak Dev University Vice Chancellor Dr. Karamjit Singh’s participation in an event organized by Amrita University, Kochi (Kerala), Prof. Khiala said that in this matter, misunderstandings were given importance over facts. The decision of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to remove him from the committee formed to draft service rules for the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib appears to be one-sided.
Prof. Khiala clarified that Dr. Karamjit Singh neither made any statement against Sikh principles nor took any position contrary to the tenets of Sikhism during the event. He merely shared information about the initiatives of Guru Nanak Dev University, which aim to promote Punjabi language, Sikh awareness, and environmental consciousness. Criticizing such a scholar solely on the basis of his attendance at an event is unjustified.
He further said that the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji encourage dialogue and the exchange of ideas. Dialogue does not mean agreement; it means presenting one’s views clearly and making an effort to understand others’ perspectives. Targeting an intellectual under such circumstances reflects the narrowness of our thinking.
Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala appealed to the Shiromani Committee to reconsider its decision and to respect scholars like Dr. Karamjit Singh, who are consistently working for the propagation of Sikh values and Punjabi culture.