A BLACK DAY FOR SIKH NATION – 26th January – India, Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950.
Article 25 of the Indian Constitution states SIKHS AS HINDU’S as it currently states “reference to Hindus shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jaina or Buddhist religion, and the reference to Hindu religious institutions shall be construed accordingly”
For some time now, the Sikh community have been demanding the change of this article and to be recognised as a separate practicing religion. The status of Sikhs being recognised as a separate religion has been supported by National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution headed by the former Chief Justice of India, Justice M.N Venkatachaliah.
International Panthic Dal (I.P.D) had launched a world-wide campaign in early 2012, which includes nationally in India, to build awareness in the community to support the change of the article. I.P.D, through its footprint in Punjab, will be working with various organisations, MP’s and MLA’s in gaining their support to the amendment. As an organisation we believe working through the system of democracy is a way of gaining results.
