'NRIs confused over langar edict'

AMRITSAR: There is confusion among Sikhs in foreign countries over the ''hukamnama'' (edict) which prohibits devotees from partaking of the ''langar'' while sitting at a table and chair, Baba Daljit Singh of Chicago, told Times News Network on Friday.
Daljit Singh, who is currently on a tour of the country said, that the edict was justified as it was the need of the hour.He nonetheless added that the decision had been taken hurriedly.
Detailed discussion with Sikhs in foreign countries and the representatives of the second generation of Sikhs should have been held before the edict was issued.
What was needed was teaching the younger generation about the significance of partaking of the "langar" while sitting on the floor. The edict, issued by former Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh in 1998, is followed only by a small percentage of the Sikh community.
Bhai Ranjit Singh had issued an edict on April 20, 1998, directing Sikhs not to partake of "langar" while sitting at a table and chair. This, however, was a common practice in many foreign countries.
Later, in October 2000, Akal Takht jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti had exempted handicapped and sick persons from sitting on the floor. This gave rise to another controversy — could an edict which had been issued earlier be amended.
Daljit Singh said that he had recently purchased an old church for $40,0000 which would house the Guru Nanak Sikh Mission of America along with Gurdwara Gurjot Parkash Sahib.
Daljit Singh is also the founder member of International Anti-Drug Sikh Mission which is headquartered at Chicago and has branches in 33 countries. He agreed that Sikh youth were into substance abuse and were moving away from the ''maryada'' (Sikh code of conduct).
Daljit Singh said that his organisation was running several de-addiction programmes where addicts were being healed through meditation and naturopathy.
Excommunicated Sikh author Gurbax Singh Kala Afghana or any of his followers were not allowed to address Sikh congregations at any gurdwara in America, he added.
About the formation of an international body for management of gurdwaras in Pakistan, Daljit Singh said that Sikhs living abroad would approve of only that body which has been set up under the aegis of SGPC.
Speaking about the American Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (ASGPC), Daljit Singh said that it was a body of representatives of various gurdwaras in America.
He nonetheless alleged that many ASGPC members were not even representatives of a gurdwara.