Sikh Groups Warn Against Reverting To Bikrami Calendar

AMRITSAR – A day before the Sikh clergymeeting, Sikh organisations supporting theoriginal Nanakshahi calendar today said theSikh high priests should not give in to the Sant Samaj’s demand ofreverting to the Bikrami calendar and instead should work on buildinga consensus before taking a final decision on the matter. A coupleof delegations also met the Akal Takht Jathedar here today.Expressing concern over the possibility of further changes in theNanakshahi calendar, the American Gurdwara ParbandhakCommittee (AGPC) urged Akal Takht to take all the Sikh organisations,including the AGPC, into confidence before taking any decision.Talking to The Tribune, AGPC coordinator Pritpal Singhalleged that efforts were on to completely do away with theNanakshahi calendar “under the influence of the RSS”. They saidsuch a move would not be acceptable to the Sikh Panth.The US leaders said Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singhmust convene a meeting of the Panth and seek the opinion of allconcerned before taking any decision. “We will not allow the SGPCto do away with the Nanakshahi calendar,” he said, adding that theyhad already adopted the original calendar.