Andrew Scheer Posts Theyyam Photo To Greet Sikhs On ‘Bandi Chhor’ Diwas, Gets Called Out

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has run into yet another controversy, this time for posting erroneous Facebook post and tweet on the ‘Bandi Chhor’ Diwas.

The day marks the release of Guru Hargobind Singh, the sixth Sikh Guru, who was held captive by the Mughals. It is celebrated by millions of sikhs across Punjab and around the world.

In his tweet, Scheer used the photo of Theyyam, which is a popular ritual form of worship in Kerala, India. The post was however deleted later

World Sikh Organization's legal Counsel Bapreet Singh said, This image has no link to the Sikh community or to Bandi Chhor Divas. We thank the @CPC_HQ and @AndrewScheer for their greeting, but please correct this image as it misrepresents the occasion."

This image has no link to the Sikh community or to Bandi Chhor Divas.

We thank the @CPC_HQ and @AndrewScheer for their greeting, but please correct this image as it misrepresents the occasion. https://t.co/Spx2dL3Hg8

— WSO (@WorldSikhOrg) October 28, 2019

"The purpose of these greetings is to show that the party cares about the community, but when they don’t care to get embedded and make sure that they’ve got the right message or the right image, it becomes insulting," he added

"The purpose of these greetings is to show that the party cares about the community, but when they don’t care to get embedded and make sure that they’ve got the right message or the right image, it becomes insulting" - WSO Legal Counsel Bapreet Singhhttps://t.co/wTcGfS44WQ

— WSO (@WorldSikhOrg) October 29, 2019

So @CPC_HQ still havent fixed this post.

Its been ~24hrs.

The image used is not even close to anything Sikh/Bandi Chhor Divas.

They know they have it wrong but dont fix it.

If @AndrewScheer's msg is sincere, if CPC learned any lessons from #elxn43, this shouldve been fixed. https://t.co/rfk6p54Cun pic.twitter.com/mvrB7APbep

— Jaskaran Singh Sandhu (@JaskaranSandhu_) October 28, 2019

Bandi Chhor literally translates as “released from prison”.

Greetings on Bandi Chhor Divas, one of the most important events in Sikh History when our sixth Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Singh Ji facilitated the release of 52 hindu princes from Mughal prison in Gwalior. pic.twitter.com/obuBemnwCi

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) October 27, 2019

Guru Hargobind’s father, Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth guru of Sikhs, was executed in 1606 on orders of then-Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Punjab historians note that the Mughal ruler felt threatened by the rising popularity of the Sikh religion. Guru Arjan was imprisoned and allegedly tortured to death.

Guru Hargobind was just 11 when his father was executed and he was declared the next guru. He started the tradition of wearing two swords — miri and piri — one to defend himself and other as a mark of temporal authority.

In 1612, he too was arrested and lodged at the Gwalior jail. He was finally released on Diwali. Historians, however, have debated the exact year of his release, between 1614 and 1615.

Some historians believe that even after he was released, he was kept under the Mughal surveillance.

Apart from Diwali, this day is celebrated as the day when the sixth Sikh Guru returned to lead his faith.