Akal Takht backs justice for Henry Nowak, opposes hate-driven anti-Sikh narratives

Amritsar: The officiating jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, on Friday said that while it was necessary to punish offenders according to the law, attempts by certain forces to target the entire Sikh community over the murder of British youth Henry Nowak pointed to a "deep-rooted conspiracy".Gargaj extended his heartfelt condolences to the Nowak's family and prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul.He said that a Sikh man, Vikram Singh Digwa, had been sentenced to 21 years' imprisonment by a United Kingdom (UK) court in connection with Nowak's murder case, and that the punishment was justified and in accordance with the law for the crime he committed.Gargaj, though, emphasised that targeting the entire Sikh community over the incident and demanding a ban on the kirpan – the Sikh article of faith – was not justified. "Engaging in politics, driven by hatred or racism, appears to be a part of a deep-rooted conspiracy," he said.He said Digwa was punished in accordance with UK law, and the Sikh community agrees with the verdict."A major conspiracy is being hatched to defame Sikhs abroad by using this case as a pretext," he said while urging the Sikhs globally to understand such wrong efforts.The jathedar also called upon the Sikh organisations in the UK to stand with Henry Nowak's family and support them during this difficult time.Gargaj said according to information received through prominent Sikhs in the UK, the weapon used by the convicted person in the Henry Nowak murder case was a ‘pesh kabz', a Persian dagger and not the Sikh article of faith, the kirpan.He stressed that according to Sikh principles, Sikhs legitimately wear the kirpan to protect the oppressed and uphold justice, not to commit wrongdoing or injustice against anyone.The jathedar further stated that certain elements were attempting to exploit the Henry Nowak case for political gain by attributing the actions of one person to the entire Sikh community.He appealed to communities in the UK, the govt there, and the Sikhs to continue living together in harmony and to identify those who were deliberately trying to create divisions, damage communal relations, and spread hatred or racism.