Akal Takht says won’t tolerate gay relations

Akal Takht head priest Giani Gurbachan Singh, after a meeting of the five head priests, ordained on Wednesday that no Sikh should enter into a gay relationship as it was against the basic tenets of Sikhism.
He said the Sikh community would not tolerate gay marriages in Sikh families.

The head priest also directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee to study all aspects in this regard with the help of legal luminaries. The Sikh clergy issued directions to all gurdwaras not to allow gay weddings. “Gay marriages are not acceptable in Sikhism and have no place in Gurmat,” the head priest said.

Harnam Singh Khalsa, head of the radical Sikh organisation Damdami Taksal, echoed his feelings. “Gay marriages,” he said, “are not acceptable and we strongly oppose it. We may even begin an agitation against such relations.”

Meanwhile, the matter rocked the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Thursday after MLA Charanjit Singh Channi expressed serious concern at gay marriages and demanded that the state take preventive measures.
While speaker NS Kahlon suggested that the MLA introduce a resolution to the effect in the House, Channi said society was facing a big challenge that threatened to tear apart its fabric. He said at least six gay couples had “exploited the social system to their benefit” after the Delhi high court verdict allowing consensual gay sex.