Sikh Leader Comments On Leamington Gurdwara

[TavPrasad Singh]

PRESS RELEASE (SENT TO THE SIKH TIMES, DES PARDES, AWAZE QAUM & PANJAB TIMES)

LEAMINGTON SANGAT RESPOND TO CHALLENGE

Monday 21 November 2005 - The Sadh Sangat in Leamington should be congratulated for taking a tough stand on the use of alcohol and meat in the Leamington Gurdwara.  Media reports indicate the Sangat passed a resolution yesterday at a special General Meeting preventing the consumption of alcohol, meat or intoxicants in the Gurdwara.

No alcohol, intoxicants or meat will now be allowed to be consumed, served or promoted within the Gurdwara complex and also within two years the Gurdwara Committee will enforce a full ban on consumption of intoxicants and meat on all Gurdwara property, in particular the Tachbrook Centre hall.

The Sikh Federation (UK) welcomes this move by the Sangat to respect the Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the sanctity of the Gurdwara.  The latest information has been forwarded today to James Plaskitt MP so he is fully aware of the wishes of the Sikh congregation in Leamington who are also his constituents.

Gurjeet Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

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[TavPrasad Singh]

LETTER SENT BY JAMES PLASKITT MP TO THE SIKH TIMES, DES PARDES, AWAZE QAUM & PANJAB TIMES

The Sikh community are a well-integrated and vital part of Warwick and Leamington constituency. It is an honour for me to represent such a significant number of Sikhs in our national Parliament.

 

I have a good and positive working relationship with the community. Over the last eight years, I have attended a large number of functions as a guest of honour. I have spoken several times at the Gurdwara and I have attended a large number of social events at the Community Centre. I also receive representatives of the Sikh Federation (UK) at the House of Commons and I have lent my support to issues on which I have been asked to campaign. I am confident that this positive relationship will continue.

 

The violent incident which occurred on November 12th is of course regrettable and should have been avoided. The law enforcement authorities are now investigating the matter and I trust that all of us will lend support to their efforts.

 

For my part, I was clear that the invitation to me for the evening was to attend an event at the Community Centre. It was my understanding that this was a separate facility to the Gurdwara.

 

Decisions about the appropriate use of premises and about what sort of functions can be held within them is not a matter for me. Any dispute about that should be resolved amicably by those responsible, and I understand that the congregation in Leamington have now considered the matter in the light of recent events.

 

Certain quotations have been attributed to me on a number of web-sites which have commented on the events of that evening. These quoted statements were not made by me. I have referred these false allegations to the police, who are handling it as part of their investigation.

 

This has been a regrettable incident. But it does not in any way at all diminish my regard for the Sikh community in my constituency or my commitment to continue working in their best interests."

 

James Plaskitt MP

Warwick and Leamington

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[jagjit_waheguru]

waheguru ji kekhalsa, waheguru ji ke fateh

Pyare jio, this is an almost indentical to the reply letter he sent to me, about my email to him over the incident, using faxyourmp.com.

It is probably a general letter being sent to everyone. I do not think he should really be blamed for the clear stupidity of the Punjabis who ran the Gurdwara at the time.

What is not yet clear. So if sangat can please clarify?

Has the Gurdwara committee been changed, or are the same people running it?

waheguru ji kekhalsa, waheguru ji ke fateh

[TavPrasad Singh]

What is not yet clear. So if sangat can please clarify?

Has the Gurdwara committee been changed, or are the same people running it?

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The committee has not changed

[GurSa Singh]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

I think the Leamington Gurdwara committee remains as it was.

There's an article in this weeks PUNJAB TIMES with details and pictures about the meetings that the various Midland Gurdwara Sahib Committee represenatives had with the Leamington committee in relation to the open Meat & Alcohol abuse on the Leamington Gurdwara premises. Not read it all yet but it looks like it discusses the meetings in depth.