Disgraceful conduct known as Sikh temple or Gurdwara fights around North America and the world continued this week in Calgary this week over the same old nonsense of temple power politics and control. News reports said multiple people were hurt during what Calgary police are calling a disturbance at the Dashmesh Culture Centre on Sunday night. THIS KIND OF NONSENSE HAS TO STOP!
By DESIBUZZCanada Staff With News Reports
CALGARY – Disgraceful conduct known as Sikh temple or Gurdwara fights around North America and the world continued this week in Calgary this week over the same old nonsense of temple power politics and control.
THIS KIND OF NONSENSE HAS TO STOP!
News reports said multiple people were hurt during what Calgary police are calling a disturbance at the Dashmesh Culture Centre on Sunday night.
At approximately 9 p.m., officers were called to the Sikh temple in northeast Calgary after violence broke out during a protest.
Police told CTV News Calgary that as many as four people suffered minor injuries during an assault during the demonstration.
Gurpartap Baidwan, one of the protest’s organizers, said some of temple congregation were gathering in opposition of the temple’s elected leadership committee.
“(We were meeting) to oppose their various bylaw violations and a series of wrongdoings and grievances,” he told CTV News.
Baidwan says the leadership is not following the rules of their faith or obeying the governance of the Sikh religion.
“They are required to abide by the Sikh Rehat Maryada that is issued by the Akal Takht, which is kind of like our Vatican,” he said.
“The issue that we’re having is that this committee that has come in is acting outside those parameters. They are not just violating the Sikh Rehat Maryada, which is the Sikh code of conduct, but they are also violating the institution’s own bylaws as prescribed under Alberta law in the form of being a non-profit organization.”
The protesters are also accusing the leaders of a lack of communication, unwillingness to settle conflicts in the community and general negligence.
He says the protests began on Dec. 24.
“That’s 15 day-and-night protests in this cold weather,” Baidwan said.
“Not once has the committee come outside and not once has the executive committee come outside to communicate or talk to the protesters outside.
Calgary police have not released any details about what sparked the assault or if anyone has been charged.
CTV News has reached out to the Dashmesh Culture Centre for more information about the incident and allegations made by the protesters.
Courtesy CTV News Calgary
