Maharashtra Sikh Association condemns murder of Punjab influencer ‘Kamal Kaur Bhabi'; rejects Akal Takht priest's justification, says violence has no place in Sikhism
Punjab influencer Kamal Kaur Bhabi
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Sikh Association (MSA) strongly condemned the recent killing of young social media influencer Kanchan Tiwari, also popularly known as Kamal Kaur Bhabi in Punjab.
The association also rejected the statement made by a senior functionary of the Akal Takht, who appeared to condone the influencer's murder.
"We strongly denounce this act of violence and any attempt to justify it in the name of faith. Guru Nanak Dev Ji's teachings are clear—reform must come through compassion, not coercion. This murder is a tragic failure of dialogue and restraint. Such actions have no place in a civilised or spiritual society," said Bal Malkit Singh, Convenor of the Maharashtra Sikh Association (MSA).
Tiwari was killed for allegedly promoting "obscenity and vulgarity in society" through her social media posts. Singh stated that his organisation acknowledges the content shared by the victim may have raised genuine concerns among some sections of society regarding values and public decency, but there is absolutely no justification for murder.
The justification of the murder by a senior priest of the Akal Takht has also drawn criticism.
"If someone finds a social media influencer's content inappropriate or damaging to societal values, there are constitutional and moral ways to express concern—through counselling, constructive engagement, legal remedies, and community awareness. Taking the law into one's own hands or promoting violence goes completely against the spirit of Sikhism," the statement said.
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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Maharashtra Sikh Association condemns murder of Punjab influencer ‘Kamal Kaur Bhabi'; rejects Akal Takht priest's justification, says violence has no place in Sikhism
Punjab influencer Kamal Kaur Bhabi MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Sikh Association (MSA) strongly condemned the recent killing of young social media influencer Kanchan Tiwari, also popularly known as Kamal Kaur Bhabi in Punjab. The association also rejected the statement made by a senior functionary of the Akal Takht, who appeared to condone the influencer's murder. "We strongly denounce this act of violence and any attempt to justify it in the name of faith. Guru Nanak Dev Ji's teachings are clear—reform must come through compassion, not coercion. This murder is a tragic failure of dialogue and restraint. Such actions have no place in a civilised or spiritual society," said Bal Malkit Singh, Convenor of the Maharashtra Sikh Association (MSA). Tiwari was killed for allegedly promoting "obscenity and vulgarity in society" through her social media posts. Singh stated that his organisation acknowledges the content shared by the victim may have raised genuine concerns among some sections of society regarding values and public decency, but there is absolutely no justification for murder. The justification of the murder by a senior priest of the Akal Takht has also drawn criticism. "If someone finds a social media influencer's content inappropriate or damaging to societal values, there are constitutional and moral ways to express concern—through counselling, constructive engagement, legal remedies, and community awareness. Taking the law into one's own hands or promoting violence goes completely against the spirit of Sikhism," the statement said.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Takht ex-jathedar alleges illegal selling of Tarn Taran gurdwara's land; SGPC rubbishes allegations
Akal Takht former jathedar Ranjit Singh on Wednesday accused the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of committing misappropriation in the sale of Tarn Taran historic Sikh shrine's land worth crores of rupees. While addressing a press conference here, he alleged that this property was donated by the devotees to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran, but SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, along with member Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, is selling it off to their favoured individuals at throwaway prices. Speaking to journalists, Ranjit Singh said the property adjoining the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Tarn Taran Sahib is worth crores. He claimed that attempts have been made to sell this property 40 times before, but the bids were always cancelled. 'This time, however, without any public bidding process, Dhami and the Badal group are selling the property to their close associates at extremely low prices,' he said. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) refuted the allegations made by the former jathedar regarding the alleged sale of certain plots belonging to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at undervalued prices. SGPC secretary Pratap Singh and assistant secretary Gurnam Singh, clarified that the land in question was not in use by the Gurdwara Sahib and had been facing frequent encroachments. Based on the recommendations of the SGPC's Property Sub-Committee, the executive committee took the decision to sell the land. They stated that the SGPC sold the land through a proper open bidding process after issuing public advertisements.
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Ludhiana influencer's killing: Faridkot MP honours Mehron's father
Religious vigilante Amritpal Singh Mehron, who is stated to be hiding in the UAE after allegedly killing a Ludhiana-based woman social media influencer as part of his moral policing, is getting support from several people, including Faridkot parliamentarian Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa and digital creators. Independent MP Khalsa visited Mehron village in Moga on Tuesday and honoured the murder accused's father Baljinder to reporters, Khalsa expressed his 'gratitude' to Mehron for his 'act'. 'Jo ve eh hoya hai asi usdi shalaha karde haan (whatever it happened deserves commendation). Immoral content on social media platforms has a nuisance value for all age groups using mobile phones,' said Khalsa, son of former PM Indira Gandhi's assassin Beant Singh and leader of Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) party. The MP said, 'It is unfortunate that those posting immoral content on social media platforms are being provided police security, whereas those working against it are being harassed by the authorities.' Akal Takht Sahib's head granthi Giani Malkit Singh on Monday justified Kanchan's murder, stating that the act was 'appropriate' in light of her alleged role in promoting obscenity. A young farmer activist from Haryana's Ambala, Navdeep Singh Jalbera, who shot to fame during the farmer agitation against three central farm laws, announced on his Facebook page his support for Mehron. Jalbera was called 'water canon boy' when attracted international media attention in November 2020, when farmers from Haryana and Punjab were rushing to Delhi on tractor-trailers, breaking police barricades, and he had jumped over a moving tractor after closing a nozzle of a water cannon trying to stop them. Jalbera, who has 1.14 lakh followers on Facebook, posted a video terming Mehron as 'quoam da heera' and 'we have a great respect for him for his action.' Another digital content creator, Bhana Sidhu, who has 1.42 lakh followers on Facebook, posted his photo with Mehron with a caption 'Amritpal de naal khade haan'. The photo was posted after Mehron was named as the main accused in Kanchan's murder. Sidhu posted several videos of Mehron where the latter was threatening social media influencers to stop posting 'vulgar' content online. Another social media enthusiast, Bhinda Harry Sangha, with over 2 lakh followers on his FB page, lamented those criticizing Kanchan's murder. He posted a video stating that Kanchan deserved 'sodha' or religious punishment by the community for defaming Sikhism. 'She wrongly portrayed herself as a Sikh and posted vulgar content,' he said in a video. Content indecent but killing totally wrong: Women's panel chief Chandigarh Punjab Women Commission chairperson Raj Rani Gill on Wednesday demanded strong regulation to monitor indecent content being served on social media by a few influencers. Talking to mediapersons, Gill said she would write to the Prime Minister, Punjab chief minister, governor and DGP to come out with strong laws to stop spreading vulgarity on social media by influencers. 'India is a culturally rich country. If we can regulate content related to arms and pornography, why not have strict provisions for dealing with vulgarity, nudity and anything which is indecent should be banned,' said Gill. She said controversial influencer Kamal Kaur's content being served on social media was totally vulgar but her killing was totally wrong. 'It was a cold-blooded murder. I am totally against the immoral acts but nobody has the right to kill anybody in the name of vigilantism,' said the chairperson. Gill said society in general should also raise the issue. 'How can a family accept money earned through indecent acts and videos,' she questioned. 'This vulgarity and indecency should not be linked with women empowerment. Freedom of speech is not vulgarity and indecency. Freedom of speech is about making you empowered for good reasons not for spreading vulgarity and indecency. It is adversely impacting our culture and leaving a bad impact on the kids,' said Gill.
