The acting chief of Akal Takht, Giani Harpreet Singh, on June 13, said, “Sikhs can’t be defined by the idea of Khalistan alone” and warned the community against Pakistan which has been pushing the Sikh youth towards terrorism and against the Indian Constitution, reports The Times of India. The statement comes a week after Giani Harpreet Singh had supported the idea and demand of Khalistan for Sikhs. The religious leader, however, clarified his statement over Khalistan, warning Sikhs of Punjab that Pakistan was misleading the Sikh youth, pushing them towards terrorism and inciting them through social media. Without mentioning names, he indirectly hit out at the US-based banned pro-Khalistan organisation, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and its leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, saying "many political leaders were making unnecessary statements" about his statement.
Meanwhile, despite the Akal Takht acting chief’s latest attempts to clarify his earlier comments on ‘Khalistan’, SFJ has urged him to perform ‘ardas’ on July 4, when it will begin voter registration for ‘Referendum 2020’ to seek people’s opinion on separate Punjab from rest of India, reports The Times of India on June 16. “SFJ is opening voter registration in Punjab on July 4, 2020, for non-governmental Referendum 2020 and we seek Sri Akal Takht Sahib’s blessings in this endeavour for Sikhs’ rights,” Pannu urged the acting Jathedar. Moreover, commenting on the chief of Akal Takht’s earlier statement, the SFJ had said, "All Indian leaders who are issuing statements against the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)-appointed Akal Takht head will be held accountable as unlawful enemy combatants at international forums."