Chandigarh/Amritsar, Dec. 26 -- As the Centre gears up to commemorate 'Veer Bal Diwas' on December 26 to mark the martyrdom of the younger Sahibzadas of the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, several Sikh organisations and leaders, including the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, have raised objections to the name.

According to the Sikh bodies and leaders, it is not justified to project younger Sahibzadas as youth icons only, and instead, the day should be named as 'Sahibzade Shahadat Diwas' as it is grounded in historical accuracy.

Akal Takht and SGPC have been at the forefront and, in a December 9 letter, asked all Sikh Members of Parliament in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to raise the issue with the Centre. The...