Sikh religious leaders slammed the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh on Saturday for claiming that the community's sacred texts were "known for their salutations to Sri Rama". The statement was published in the Sangh's mouthpiece Organiser.

 "The Guru Granth Sahib is known for its message of monotheism and not for salutations to Lord Rama. The message is one but allusions and references from ancient texts of different faiths are numerous. The RSS statement is highly condemnable," Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Paramjit Singh Sarna said.

He wondered why the RSS journal 'dragged' Sikhism and its sacred book into the Sangh Parivar's row with the Congress-led government over the Ram Sethu affidavits.

"We respect all religions and their founders. But what is intriguing is the RSS' attempt to drag Sikhism into its confrontation with the government," Sarna said.

Senior leader of Punjab's Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and scholar Manjit Singh said that Sikh religious writings oppose human worship.

"The RSS needs to have a deeper study of Gurbani. It is interpreting it with a pre-conceived notion and circulating that interpretation far and wide," Singh said.

Earlier this year, the Akal Takht, Sikhism' highest temporal authority, warned the RSS about its statement that Sikhs are part of the Hindu Samaj.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has often come under attack from his Akali critics for his links with the BJP.