Latest Breaking News from Punjab - Monday 11th June 2007

All deras not blasphemous: Vedanti

Jammu, Akal Takht jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti said today that his edict against Dera Sacha Sauda should not lead to a notion that all deras in Punjab or other states were blasphemous.
“There are deras where Guru Granth Sahib is duly regarded and recited as per the tenets of Sikhism and these should not be mixed up with those where self-styled godmen indulge in blasphemous activities,” the jathedar said in an exclusive interview with The Tribune here.
He was in Jammu to preside over the Amrit Sanchar Samagam (congregation for baptism) at Dera Nangali Sahib.
He said such an event was a welcome step and many deras were organising such campaigns for the spread of Sikhism.
He pointed out that he was in the process of probing the activities of certain deras like Dera Noormahal of Ashutosh.
He said there were also complaints of self-styled godmen exploiting people in the name of Sikhism from places like Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Himachal Pradesh, besides Punjab and Haryana.
He blamed the mismanagement of gurdwaras at various levels, like appointing local priests as the reason for the people getting deviated to the deras.
Even though the Akal Takht jathedar expressed satisfaction over the functioning of the SGPC’s dharam parchar committee, he said the system of appointing priests in Singh Sabha or historic gurdwaras had to be reformed and regulated.
On Dera Sacha Sauda he said he was watching the role of both Centre and the Punjab government.
“We (the Sikh clergy) have begun with Punjab as there is an emergent need within the state first for taking reformative steps. We will soon summon certain self-styled godmen who are exploiting people through their anti-religious activities after identifying and exposing them before the public,” he added.

To carry out the Edict from Akal Takhat for the Closure of all the Deras the Sikhs need to get together to complete this Edict - Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh Takhat Shri Damdama Sahib

CM should clarify stand on edict, says Ravi Inder

Sangrur, June 10President of the SAD (1920) Ravi Inder Singh today asked Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to clarify whether he (Badal) accepted Akal Takht’s edict regarding social boycott of Dera Sacha Sauda followers and closure of all its deras or not.
Talking to reporters here today, Ravi Inder Singh said the Badal government had failed in taking action against the dera. He said a deputation of representatives of various Sikh organisations, including Sant Samaj, SAD (1920), SAD (A), Dal Khalsa, Khalsa Panchayat, would meet Badal in Chandigarh tomorrow in this regard.
Earlier, at a meeting at the local Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Ravi Inder Singh handed over Rs 1 lakh to the family of Sunam firing victim.

Daljit Bittu himself present before police; Another case registered against him

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) senior vice president Daljit Singh Bittu Saturday presented himself before police to join investigation at Fatehgarh Sahib police station but police refused to question him.
The court of District and Sessions Judge, Fatehgarh Sahib on June 7 stayed the arrest of Bittu after his lawyers filed bail application under section 438 of CrPC for grant of anticipatory bail in a 'sedition case’ which was registered against Bittu and others on May 31 on the statement of Fatehgarh Sahib SHO Darshan Singh. In the bail application Bittu’s lawyers also submitted that Bittu was ready to join the investigation and will make himself available.
Bittu along with activists of SAD (Amritsar) he present himself before the police around noon. Before coming to join investigation, Bittu and SAD activists raised slogans against Dera Sacha Sauda chief and demanded his immediate arrest.
Inspector Vikas Sabbarbal was present at Fatehgarh Sahib police station when Bittu came to join investigation but Fatehgarh Sahib SHO Darshan Singh was not at police station. Sources said that the Bittu showed stay orders on his arrest to police officials who told him that his requirement of joining police investigation was not mentioned in court order.
Later, Bittu’s lawyers submitted application in the court of District and Sessions Judge, Fatehgarh Sahib and told the court that Bittu was not allowed to join police investigation when he had gone to join investigation. They requested the court to direct police to allow Bittu to join police investigation.The judge fixed June 12 for hearing of the application. It may be mentioned here that the court had stayed Bittu’a arrest till June 12.

Another Sedition case registered against Bittu Talking to media persons at Fatehgarh Sahib police station, Daljit Singh Bittu said that Punjab police is registering false cases against him and other party activists only to make pressure. He said that earlier Fatehgarh Sahib police registered false case of sedition against him but now Amritsar police had also secretly registered similar case against him. He said that people know that he had no fault but false cases were registered against the behest of SAD Acting president Sukhbir Badal.Bittu said that Punjab government had now showed any interest in interest of Dera Sacha Sauda chief which had exposed Parkash Singh Badal led government. He said that his party and like minded persons are bound to implement the directions of Akal Takht at any cost. He said that a high level committee would meet Badal on June 11 to make pressure on the government to take action against Dera Sacha Sauda chief.

Action Committee to Meet CM tomorrow: A delgation of 101 representatives of various Sikh organizations shall meet Cheif Minister of Punjab tomorrow at Chandigarh under leadersip of Khasla Action Committee.

KAC Meeting on 11 June: KAC would meet tomorrow (after meeting with CM) to plan the statergy to execute its' decsion to hold a march from Dina Kangar (Moga) to Damdama Sahib on 24 June. This March is to be organized with an object of spreading awairness among people against Dera Sauda. Further Actions shall be announced on 24 June, 2007.

Return to Sikhi Fold Continue: Since the dera sauda head gurmeet ram raheem insaan's Jaam-e-insaan conroversy has arrisen, many people are detaching their ties with dera sauda and are returning to Sikhi. Some consiter this as a temporary phinomina and say that it is motivates by many temporary factors, while others beleive that continuance of it shows that it is not a temporary phinomina and people mislead by dera are becoming awair of misdeeds of dera, so they are returing to their home

Incident of Clash Near Bhucho Kencian and Related News: News reports came that situation is tense at Bhuchon Kenchian, as a dera follower burnt "Gurbani Pothis" and gave a grave provocations to Sikhs living in that area. Consiquently that drea follower was burnt by some Sikh Youth. Police has registered a case of Attempt to Murder (U/s 307 of IPC) against named persons. More details are not available yet.

Agnivesh's New Statement and its' Criticism On 07 June 2007 Arya Samaji Swami Agnivesh Claimed that Dera Sauda controversy with Sikhs is over now. He claimed that he shall try to bring both sides closer to each other in coming future. This Statement is Sham, baseless and mis-guiding. Sikh Students Federation Clerified through a press release that the struggle against dera saud shall continue untill edics of Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib are implimented.


SGPC mediation sought

Jammu, The Jammu and Kashmir Gurdwara Parbandhak Board (JKGPB) has urged SGPC president Avtar Singh to take up the demand of the Sikhs here with the Centre for access to the historic gurdwaras in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).
“It is essential to ensure the upkeep and sanctity of the Sikh shrines in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur districts in the POK, which is possible only when the Sikhs have easy access to such places,” the JKGPB president and member of the state’s legislative council Tirlochan Singh Wazir stated in a memorandum submitted to the SGPC chief during the latter's visit to Jammu here.
The SGPC president had assured the gurdwara board members that he would take up the matter with the Central government, Wazir said at a press conference here today.
He said the SGPC president had also been urged for the establishment of a technical college in Jammu for which, he added, the land would be provided by the JKGPB.