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Anand Marriage Act amendment not enough: US Sikh bodies
Press Trust of India - Amritsar May 24, 2012 21:25 IST
Various Sikh organisations based in the US have said the recent amendment to Anand Marriage Act was not enough to restore separate status and identity of Sikh religion, and sought an amendment in the Indian Constitution to restore separate status for the community.
The organizations have, in unison, demanded an amendment to Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.
A statement sent from North America here today stated that Sikhism is a separate religion and is acknowledged as such throughout the world.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) said the recent amendment to the Anand Marriage Act does not establish separate Sikh identity.
The demand of Sikh community is an amendment to Article 25 of the Constitution, which is being continuously ignored by the Government of India, said Pannun.
Amarjit Singh Mann, spokesperson for Ontario Gurudwaras Committee, an umbrella organisation of Gurudwaras across Canada said amendment is a "sham" as it fails to give separate identity to Sikhs which is a long standing demand of the community.
According to Pritpal Singh, coordinator of American Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee the amendment is just an administrative arrangement to register the Sikh marriages and the big issue of Sikh identity still remains to be addressed.
Gurdev Singh Kang, president of Sikh Cultural Society of Richmond Hill, New York, one of the oldest Sikh Gurudwara in the North Eastern United States said Sikhs demand Amendment to Article 25 of the Constitution which will grant separate status to Sikhsim.
source: http://www.business-standard.com/ge...ct-amendment-not-enough-us-sikh-bodies/13130/
