The Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE) urged the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Akal Takht, two of Sikhism's most revered bodies, to educate people about the disease and support its victims.

"The religious community needs to get involved to control the threat of HIV/AIDS in Punjab," SCORE chairman Rajwant Singh said. "Great mobilisation is needed on the part of Akal Takht and SGPC.

"It is time to shed hesitation and discuss the disease even in religious congregations to help victims and their families and make the community aware of preventive measures," he said.

Punjab has a high AIDS prevalence.

"The political leadership in Punjab has been slow in responding to the disease. It has also been hesitant due to the taboos involved," said Singh, an active campaigner against AIDS.

--Indo-Asian News Service