AMRITSAR – After evoking sharp criticism from various Sikh organizations, state government’s Casino plan has met another roadblock after Sant Samaj , partner of Shiromani Akali Dal (B) in assembly and Shiromani Gurdwara Parabandhak Committee (SGPC) elections warned the state leadership to review its decision and not go ahead with its plan of making Punjab a den of gambling.
Various constituents of Sant Samaj including Damdami Taksal, Nirmalayae, Udhaseen, Rara Sahib’s held a meeting here on Wednesday to contemplate over state governments’ plans to set up Casinos in Punjab, informed Chief of Sant Samaj and Damdami Taksal, Sikh’s prominent seminary Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa while talking to TOI. He said “We can’t even think of opening of gambling den’s in Punjab”.
Stating that gambling was forbidden in Sikhism he questioned “How could state government draw such plans for Punjabi’s who were already victim to the menace of drugs”.
He informed that all the representatives in meeting were unanimous on not allowing state government to open Casinos in Punjab and have appealed to state government to review its decision. Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa however remained non committal when asked the future course of Sant Samaj in case government continued with its plans. In recent past Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has proposed to set up Casino near Ludhiana.
The decision had attracted widespread condemnations from across the world. Sant Samaj had helped SAD (B) in SGPC as well assembly elections and enjoys influence in government due to their huge vote bank. He said if government had to earn revenue it should think of some positive measures and not things like opening of gambling dens. “Today it is casino tomorrow more evils would be making way on Punjab’s land on the name of development which the Sant Samaj will never allow” said he.
