It must be understood by all the people of the country that extremists have no religion. They can be born in any country or religion. It is often seen that a handful of people, for the sake of their own ego, identify innocent people, especially the youth, and lure them with various temptations to use them for their own goals. In this work, the government machinery also becomes involved in some way, because without the support of the government, extremists cannot get protection, weapons, etc. However, history is a witness that the governments of any country that have supported extremists and expanded their reach, these very people eventually turn out to be a threat to the same governments. Recently, the attack by extremists on a Hindu temple in Canada led to anti-Sikh sentiments being expressed once again on social media. The incident began with a clash between extremists and common people outside a temple in Brampton, Canada, and soon escalated into a larger issue.
Sikh leader Gurmeet Singh Sura says that the Sikh Gurus taught the message of “Awwal Allah Noor Upaya” (God created the light) and, therefore, no Sikh can ever think of attacking the religious place of another faith. Bhupinder Singh Bhullar, Chairman of the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Dispensary, said that although Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji did not wear the sacred thread (janeu) himself, he sacrificed his life to protect it. Guru Gobind Singh Ji sacrificed all four of his sons for this nation and religion. Since then, thousands of Sikhs have sacrificed their lives for the same cause. Whenever the Sikh community prays during the daily Ardas (prayer), they pray not just for themselves, but for the entire universe. In such a case, how can they attack people of any other faith? A few individuals who appear in Sikh attire on foreign soil may engage in such incidents, but they forget that the entire Sikh community worldwide has to bear the consequences of their mistakes.
The Sikh community has always been at the forefront of humanitarian service, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whenever any disaster strikes, Sikhs are the first to extend help. However, due to the actions of such individuals, the entire Sikh community faces embarrassment. Hindus and Sikhs, both brothers, should strengthen their relationship so much that no one can attempt to sow discord between them.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Khalsa Vox or its members.
