Church leaders have met the top leader of Sikhism after Sikhs objected to being called “crusaders” by unidentified pastors in a northern Indian Punjab state. The pastors alle-gedly called Sikh community members “crusaders” following a spate of attacks on the state’s Christians, who were accused of forced conversions. Christians account for 10 percent of Punjab’s population.
“Some unknown pastors have allegedly used the word ‘crusaders’ for them [Sikhs]. It is painful and unfortunate,” Bishop Agnelo Rufino Gracias, apostolic administrator of Jullundur diocese in Punjab state, told. The prelate added that they have had a “good rapport with the Sikhs” for years and hardly “faced any issues.” A delegation from Jullundur (Jalandhar) diocese in northern Punjab met Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh of the Akal Takht (the seat of power of the Sikh religion) on July 15. The Sikhs form the majority of Punjab’s 28 million population the Jathedar is the head of the Sikh religion. The meeting took place in Amritsar, where the Jathedar is based. The delegation, led by Father John Grewal, the diocese’s director of interreligious dialogue, handed Singh a letter titled “Masih Maha Sabha” (Christian General Assembly) and promised cooperation to address the contentious issue of religious conversion.