AMRITSAR, Dec. 4 -- Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Wednesday slammed the Punjab child welfare council, affiliated with the Indian child welfare council, for ordering fancy-dress competitions to mark the martyrdom day of the Sahibzadas, the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh.

In a statement, the jathedar said that these events should be cancelled immediately. "It is extremely concerning that both the Centre and Punjab governments show little seriousness or understanding of Sikh principles, sentiments and traditions, resulting in officials of government departments issuing arbitrary and anti-Sikh directives," jathedar said.

An order dated November 12, recently surfaced online,...