20 hours Ago By TOI News Desk
The Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad on Wednesday rejected Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun ’s alleged threat to disrupt key bathing dates during the upcoming Maha Kumbh, describing it as a futile attempt to create rifts between Hindu and Sikh communities. Earlier this week, the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), led by designated terrorist Pannun, issued a video warning of disruptions at the Maha Kumbh scheduled to take place in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The video, which surfaced after an encounter in Pilibhit where three Khalistan Zindabad Force militants were killed by UP and Punjab police, specifically targeted key bathing dates, including January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami).
According to news agency PTI, Akhada Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri while addressing the media said, "If this person named Pannun dares to enter our Maha Kumbh, he will be beaten and driven out. We have seen hundreds of such lunatics." Highlighting the harmony between Sikh and Hindu communities, Puri added, "This is the Magh Mela, where Sikhs and Hindus are united.
Pannun's attempts to instigate division are uncalled for. It is the Sikh community that has kept our Sanatan tradition alive. They have safeguarded Sanatan Dharma .
" Pannun claimed the threats were aimed at challenging "Modi’s Hindutva ideology" and commended Bangladesh’s prime minister for arresting an ISKCON priest. He further urged Canada to "rein in Indo-Canadian Hindutva organisations and Hindu temples," and even announced a bounty of USD 25,000 for targeting the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. Also read: Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) issues threat to target Maha Kumbh 2025 Puri downplayed the threats, describing Pannun’s inflammatory rhetoric as a habitual tactic to disrupt peace.
"We should not give too much importance to Pannun's statements, as his goal has always been to create unrest and attack the very fabric of our traditions," he remarked. The Akhada Parishad president also highlighted the spiritual ties binding the two communities and said, "We have Naga sadhus in both our religions, and we are all soldiers of Sanatan Dharma. That's why we do not take such delusional threats seriously.
" Puri also referred to the prominent 'akhadas' in Punjab, such as Bada Udasin Akhada, Naya Udasin Akhada, and Nirmal Akhada, which are home to revered saints. "These threats are not worth our attention," he concluded. (With inputs from PTI).
