NEW DELHI: A day after Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi defended religious conversions in the state in an exclusive interview with the New Indian, several Sikh leaders leaders are now hitting out at him for hurting the sentiments of Sikhs.
When asked about the conversion of impoverished and underprivileged Sikhs to Christianity in the state, Channi had said, “The Sikhs have to introspect what is plaguing our relgion. Why are our people forsaking the religion and embracing other faiths. If they don’t get enough love, they march towards other religions. We must give love to everyone and take everyone along.”
Reacting to this, the Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, tweeted: “Another gem from the apprentice Punjab CM! Defends religious conversions. Blames ‘lack of love’ as the reason. Remains silent on coercion & other unscrupulous means. Wants Sikhs, the ambassadors of universal brotherhood, oneness & sewa of humanity to take the blame.”
Another gem from the apprentice Punjab CM!
Defends religious conversions. Blames ‘lack of love’ as the reason. Remains silent on coercion & other unscrupulous means. Wants Sikhs, the ambassadors of universal brotherhood, oneness & sewa of humanity to take the blame. pic.twitter.com/Un9lFIayXt
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) February 5, 2022
Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the former MLA from Delhi’s Rajouri Garden constituency, also slammed Channi’s statement. “What can be more shamneful and distressing for Sikhs that their own Sikh CM is legitimising conversions. Is that a hint that he has already embrace Christianity?” he tweeted.
पंजाब के सिखों के लिये इससे ज़्यादा दुखदायी और शर्मनाक बात क्या होगी कि उनका अपना सिख मुख्यमंत्री धर्म परिवर्तन को सही ठहरा रहा है@CHARANJITCHANNI जी का कहना “सिख धर्म में आपसी प्यार नही हैं तो लोगों का ईसाई बनना जायज़ है” इशारा है कि वो भी शायद ईसाई धर्म अपना चुके हैं @ANI pic.twitter.com/eKJFrzs1z9
— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) February 4, 2022
“Our Guru Sahibs made supreme sacrifices of their lives to protect our faith and freedom of religion. Today, a Sikh CM has stooped so low that he is justifying conversion for votes!” he added.
Our Guru Sahibs made supreme sacrifice of their lives to protect our faith & freedom of religion
Today, a Sikh CM has stooped so low that he is justifying CONVERSION for votes!ਸਿੱਖ ਹੋਣ ਦੇ ਬਾਵਜੂਦ @CHARANJITCHANNI ਨੇ “ਧਰਮ-ਪਰਿਵਰਤਨ” ਨੂੰ ਜਾਇਜ਼ ਆਖਿਆ; ਕਿਹਾ ਸਿੱਖ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਿਆਰ’ ਚ ਕਮੀ pic.twitter.com/mGF6jPzoxf
— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) February 4, 2022
However, Channi has denied that he has forsaken his faith and converted to Christianity.
.@CHARANJITCHANNI जी कह रहे है कि लोगो को सिखी में वैसे प्यार नही मिलता जैसा क्रिस्टेनिटी में मिलता है इसलिए सिख कन्वर्ट हो रहे है,क्या चन्नी को भी सिखी में प्यार नही मिला जो उन्होंने अपने घर में क्रॉस लगा रखा है, क्या उन्हें नही पता कि सीखो को लालच दे कर कन्वर्ट किया जा रहा है? pic.twitter.com/glhUvJvEZk
— RP Singh National Spokesperson BJP (@rpsinghkhalsa) February 5, 2022
This recent controversy can have an impact on the upcoming Punjab assembly elections which is the only Sikh-majority state in the country.