Latest as it comes from India about reaction to Rapist Jhoota Ram Rahim

Ludhiana (June 22, 2008)
Khalsa Action Committee members to meet in Jalandhar on 23 June: Information given by Ludhiana based office of Khalsa Action Committee has revealed that the Members of KAC shall meet on 23 June, 2008 at Gurudwara Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Jalandhar to decide the future course of Struggle against anti-Sikh sauda cult. It is expected that KAC shall extend it's support to Sant Samaj's rail roko call, as various member organizations of KAC, such as SADA (Panch Pardhani) and SSF has already extended its' support to said program. More strict plan of Action is expected to be announced after meeting.

Fatehgarh Sahib (June 21, 2008)
SAD(A) announces statewide agitation in case of inaction: Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) members on Saturday threatened to block traffic across Punjab if the Centre did not take steps to arrest Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS) chief Gurmit Ram Rahim. Senior party leader Harpal Singh Cheema said this was decided after a meeting of the members.

Sirsa - Haryana (June 21, 2008)
Sirsa Sikhs Blocked Highway over Mumbai Incident: HUNDREDS OF Sikhs of the district blocked the national highway No.10 at Sahuwala village, about 17 km from here, this morning in protest against the killing of a Sikh in firing by a bodyguard of the Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS) head in Mumbai last night. The protesters, who were led by Baba Gurmeet Singh Tilokewala and Sher Singh Mallewala, demanded the arrest of dera chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh and the withdrawal of Z-plus security given to him. .

Ambala - Haryana (June 21, 2008)
Sikhs Blocked Traffic at Ambala - Demanded Arrest of Dera Head: Sikhs today staged massive protests against Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS) chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in the twin towns of Ambala. They demanded withdrawal of Z plus security given to the Dera chief. They said they would stage a protest against Dera head on July 5 when he would be here for court attendance in CBI cases against him.

Jalandhar (June 21, 2008)
Arrest or ‘rail roko': Taksal Representatives of Gurmat Sidhant Parchar Sant Samaj today gave an ultimatum to the government to ensure the arrest of the Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS) head by June 24. Baba Harnam Singh of Damdami Taksal told mediapersons that the government must arrest the Dera head by Tuesday or a statewide "rail roko" agitation would be launched. Rail traffic would be stopped on the Amritsar-Delhi section at Madhopur, near Sirhind, on Wednesday he said, and it would also be disrupted in other parts of the state.

Jalandhar (June 21, 2008)
Protest at Jalandhar: Meanwhile various Sikh organizations held protest rallies and burnt the effigy of Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim in Jalandhar.

Hoshiarpur (June 21, 2008)
Road blocked in Hoshiarpur : Agitated over the Mumbai incident in which a Sikh was killed by Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS) chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim's bodyguard, members of radical Sikh organisations held a demonstration and blocked traffic for over an hour at Parbhat Chowk in Hoshiarpur on Saturday. Demanding the arrest of the Dera chief and his bodyguard, the protesters, led by Dal Khalsa leader Harcharanjit Singh Dhami, took out a march in the city.

Bathinda (June 21, 2008)
Protests in Bathinda: Roads Blocked Sikhs reacted to the killing of a member of the community in Mumbai with protests in Bathinda at the bus stand and neighboring districts in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday. The police took out a flag march in the city. The Khalsa Action Committee blocked both rail and road traffic at the Rampura Phul crossing on the Bathinda-Chandigarh road.

Sikhs protest in Mumbai,

Three bodyguards of Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, who

were arrested yesterday for shooting a man to death at a Mumbai mall, have been remanded in police custody till July 2. The names of the bodyguards are Jagdev Singh, Satnam Arora and Rajguru Taneja.
Police said the three men were arrested shortly after they fired at the Sikh protesters who opposed the presence of the Baba at Mumbai's Nirmal Lifestyle mall.
One Sikh, Balkar Singh, died after receiving bullet injuries, the police said. The incident inflamed passions with thousands of Sikhs hitting the roads. Schools and colleges run by the Sikh community remained shut today to protest the incident.
Protests were reported from the region also.
The community, which has a strong presence in Mulund, Thane and nearby areas, descended on the Mulund railway station and blocked trains. They were demanding the arrest of the Baba as a pre-condition for cremating the remains of the dead youth.
According to the police, at least 1,000 Sikhs descended on the Mulund railway station at 11.30 am and blocked the traffic. Several food stalls and shops in the vicinity of the railway station were stoned by the protesters.
A statement made by the Central Railway said several local trains going towards Kalyan, Thane, Ambernath, Kasara and Karjat were cancelled.
Outstation trains to Pune and other places were also delayed for more than two hours. However, after the intervention of the Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil and senior police officials, the protesters allowed the train services to resume. According to the Central Railway, train services were fully restored by evening.
Patil said the Maharashtra government would give a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of the dead and Rs 25,000 each for those injured in the incident. The Deputy CM, who also handles the home ministry, ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
Police said, the family of Balkar Singh had taken his body for cremation.
Meanwhile, peaceful protests are continuing. “We have decided to hold peaceful protests without resorting to violence,” local Congress party MLA Charan Singh Chapra said. Chapra, who had been in the forefront of the agitation, said the Sikhs were hurt that the Baba was allowed to leave Mumbai without being booked for the incident. However, police say they are still not sure if he personally ordered his guards to fire on the protesters.
According to Chapra, the community would take a decision on Monday on whether to continue the agitation.
Meanwhile, other factions of the Sikh community, owing allegiance to other leaders, continued to hold protests in other parts of Mumbai. On the Eastern Express Highway at the Airoli junction in Navi Mumbai, Sikh protesters attempted to block the traffic.
However, the administration deployed the State Reserve Police Force and city police in riot gear. Late in the afternoon, the police fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters.
According to the local police, a number of miscreants had joined the protests and were resorting to hit-and-run attacks, taking advantage of the thick mangrove cover in the area.
Meanwhile, shortly after the yesterday’s incident, the Baba left Mumbai by road for Pune from where he was to take a flight back home. As the news of Baba’s departure spread, members of the Sikh community tried to block the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. However, police did not allow the flow of traffic to be disturbed and 33 sword-bearing youths were arrested.
Meanwhile, the police said security had been tightened at Ratnagiri, where the Dera owns an ashram, to prevent any untoward incident in the town.
According to the police, security had also been beefed up at Nanded.
Jammu: Various Sikh organisations today held a demonstration in Jammu to protest against the killing of a Sikh in Mumbai.
Agitating Sikhs demanded that the Dera chief be immediately arrested for hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community throughout the world.
Angry protesters also burnt an effigy of Gurmeet Ram Rahim. Raising anti-Dera Sacha Sauda slogans, they also burnt tyres on the road.
Sikhs protesters alleged that the killing had taken place to belittle the Sikh community.

Mumbai killing: Protesters block rail, road traffic

SGPC announces Rs 5 lakh for family of Balkar

To seek meeting with Pm

A five-member team of the SGPC, headed by its president Avtar Singh, will leave for Mumbai by air tomorrow to take firsthand information of the incident in which a Sikh was killed and three were injured in the firing by a bodyguard of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief yesterday.
The SGPC president has sought time from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the incident. He said the team would seek immediate arrest of Dera chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh apart from imposing a ban on the activities of the Dera. The SGPC would give Rs 5 lakh to the family of Balkar Singh who was killed in the firing and bear expenses on the treatment of the injured.
The SGPC president lashed out at the Congress and the Centre for not containing the anti-Sikh activities of the Dera.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, while describing the Mumbai incident “unfortunate”, urged the Sikh community to exercise restraint and help the state in maintaining peace and harmony. He, however, said nobody would be allowed to take law into his hand.
Activists of various Sikh organisations, including the Khalsa Action Committee, Akal Purkh Ki Fauj, Sikh Students Federation (Mehta), staged a protest against the killing of Balkar Singh by a bodyguard of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
The children of the slain militants, led by Sandeep Kaur, also held a protest near the Hall Gate. A few skirmishes were reported in certain areas, but the situation remained under control. Earlier, the agitators blocked traffic on the Bandari bridge for half an hour.
HOSHIARPUR: Hundreds of activists of various Sikh organisations, led by former president of the Dal Khalsa Harcharanjit Singh Dhami, district president of the All-India Sikh Students Federation (Peer Mohamad) Kirpal Singh Ahluwalia, senior vice-president of the SAD (Amritsar) Lakhwinder Singh, staged a dharna and blocked traffic at the Prabhat chowk here for more than an hour.
The leaders demanded immediate arrest of the culprits responsible for the killing of a Sikh in Mumbai, registration of cases of rape and murder against Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and his immediate arrest.
They submitted a memorandum to SDM Karnail Singh.
PHAGWARA: Activists of the SAD (Amritsar Panj Pardhani), led by its leaders Kulbir Singh Barapind and Manjit Singh Khalsa, stopped the Amritsar-bound Paschim Express at the local railway station for at least 10 minutes. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the SDM demanding the immediate arrest of the Dera chief.
SANGRUR: Sikh organisations and saints staged a dharna and blocked traffic at the traffic lights chowk, near main bus stand here. Prominent Sikh saints and leaders, including Baba Sukhchain Singh Dharampura, Baba Buta Singh Gurthli Wale, SGPC member Nirmal Singh Gharachon, president of the Panthic Vichar Manch Parshotam Singh Phaguwala and joint secretary of the SAD (Panch Pardhani) Babu Singh Kahangarh, participated in the agitation. The protesters demanded the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda chief. They submitted a memorandum to naib tehsildar Nirmal Singh at the dharna site.

Sant Samaj threatens rail roko

Echoing the demand of Sikh community of Mumbai, the Sant Samaj, a conglomerate of several Sikh organisations, here issued a three-day ultimatum to the Centre and Maharashtra government to arrest Dera Sacha Sauda chief Grumeet Ram Rahim Singh.
President of the Sant Samaj Harnam Singh Khalsa, also chief of the Damdami Taksal, said if the Centre and Maharashtra government failed to arrest the Dera chief within three days, a rail roko would be observed on Wednesday between Amritsar and Delhi from 8 am to 7 pm.
Khalsa said the Dera chief should be arrested for murders of Balkar Singh in Mumbai yesterday and Karamjit Singh in Sunam last year. He appealed to the Sikh community of Mumbai to maintain peace.

Sikhs block NH-10 for five hours

Sikhs protesters block traffic on the Fazilka-Delhi highway in Sirsa on Saturday.

Sikhs, led by leaders of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and heads of Sikh Deras, held a five-hour long protest by blocking traffic on vital NH-10, commonly known as Fazilka-Delhi highway.
Protests against the killing of an elderly Sikh by the bodyguard of Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, chief of Dera Sacha Sauda in Mumbai yesterday, began at seven in the morning near Gurudwara Guru Teg Bahadur in Sahuwala village falling under police station Badagudda. It was lifted only after the deputy commissioner V Umashankar and SP Venkat Ramana visited the place.
Keeping in view the sensitivity of the matter, the Haryana government beefed up the security in and around the town. Security around the Dera, located nearly 12 km from the city on Begu road, was also consolidated.
The deputy commissioner said two additional companies of the state police had arrived for consolidating security of the Dera and other sensitive parts of the city. He said paramilitary forces could also be requisitioned if needed.
The dormant peace committee, comprising nearly 50 individuals from various walks of life, which was constituted at the height of Sikh-Dera face-off last year, was immediately called today.
The Sikh leaders handed over a memorandum minutes before concluding their protest. It demanded registration of a murder case against the Dera chief in Mumbai and adequate compensation to the family of the deceased and injured.
Although SDM H.C Bhatia reached the place of protest and was joined by ASP Sajjan Singh, the protesters refused to lift the protest. Hence, the traffic had to be diverted on NH-10 in order to avoid jam and inconvenience to the commuters.
Baba Baljit Singh Daduwala and Sant Gurmit Tilokewala, both head of Sikh Deras, participated in the protest with their followers. Among others were Hardam Singh, member, SGPC from Sirsa and Parkash Singh Sahuwala, president, local Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
Jagdish Singh Jhinda, president, Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, while talking on the phone said, "The Centre should intervene to avoid the situation spilling out of hands.” In order to chalk out future strategy, we would hold district-level meetings on June 23, he added.
Meanwhile, Sukhwinder Singh Khalsa, state president, Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee, said they would hold a protest march from the historic Gurdwara Patchahi Daswi, located in the city, to the residence of the deputy commissioner and would also hand over a memorandum to him.

‘Anti-social elements attacked Dera chief’

Defending firing by a security guard of Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, its spokesperson Aditya Insan said some “anti-social elements'' had attacked the cavalcade of the spiritual head in Mumbai yesterday. Talking to the media persons in the Dera premises here today, he said the attack was in self-defence and added that about 15 Dera followers were also injured in the attack.
He said many times "terrorists" had attacked the cavalcade of the Dera chief but the police failed to take actions against the culprits.

Latest News as it comes about Rapist Murderer Raam Rahim and Sikh Reaction

Mumbai (June 21, 2008)
Protest Called off by Sikhs temporarily in Mumbai: Mumbai Sikhs have called off the protest after assurance by the Government that action shall be taken against accused for killing Balkar Singh. ‘This withdrawal is temporary and if the Sikhs are not satisfied by the steps taken by the Government to fullfil its’ promise then protests shall start from Monday’ said Sikh representatives while announcing the call off.
Ludhiana (June 21, 2008)
Protest held at Ludhiana: Sikhs hold strong protests in the Industrial city of Ludhiana in wake of yesterday’s Mumbai Killing. They raised demand of arrest of dera sauda head.
Chowk Mehta (June 21, 2008)
Ultimatum by Damdami Taksal: Baba Harnam Singh, head of Damdami Taksal today issued an ultimatum till 24th June, 2008 to the Government to arrest dera sauda head. He said warned that if the demand is not met with the the prescribed time limit a public protest shall be launched and railway traffic shall be blocked. Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (Panch Pardhani) and Sikh Students Federation has supported this announcement.
Amritsar (June 21, 2008)
SGPC announces Rs. 5 lakh for Sikh killed in Mumbai: Shriomani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Saturday announced Rs. 5 lakh for the family of the Sikh who was killed in firing by security guards by Dera Sachcha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in Mumbai.

Updates on Bombay Incident of Attack by Dera Sauda on Sikhs and Reaction - Sikh Shaheed is Amar

(The real Raam Raheem)

Patiala (June 21, 2008)
Protest in Patiala, Case Registered: Sikhs in Patiala Held a protest demanding arrest of dera suada head. The venue of protest was Anardana Chowk, in the heart of the city. Letter protesters marched towards City police station. According to recent report from sources, a case has been registered against Sikhs for breaking glass of a shop in the main market.
Pune (June 21, 2008)
Pune Expressway Blocked: Some Sikh Youth blocked the Expressway at Pune to prevent arrival of dera head to the city. They were all arrested by police and latter released on bail.
Bombay (June 21, 2008)
Trains and Traffic Blocked, Schools reamined Closed: Sikhs, here in Bombay stopted traffic on roads and railway tracks at various palces in Metro City of Bombay. Sikhs are demanding arrest of Dera sauda head gurmeet ram raheem in connection with yesterday's killing incident.
Bombay (June 20, 2008)
One Sikh shot dead by Dera Head's Bodyguards: Balkar Singh (50) is shot dead by dera sauda head's bodyguards while Sikhs were protesting the arrival of dera cheif in Mumbai.

Man killed in firing by Dera chief’s bodyguard

A 50-year-old Sikh was today killed in firing by the bodyguard of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim Singh, who earned the wrath of Sikh clergy, outside a suburban mall during a protest against the spiritual guru by a Sikh group, which turned violent, the police said.
A group of Sikhs shouted anti-Dera slogans inside the Nirmal Lifestyles mall in suburban Mulund during a visit by Dera chief to the place this evening, a senior police officer said.
The protest by Sikhs led to altercations between Dera chief ‘s supporters and the Sikh group, which turned violent after the group allegedly started pelting stones, he said.
The Dera chief left the mall immediately at around 6.45 pm for a programme scheduled later in the evening.
“While the motorcade was passing for the programme, some Sikh protesters attempted to block the way and charged towards the vehicles when a private bodyguard is suspected to have opened fire,” the officer said.
One person suffered grievous injuries in the firing and was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed. The deceased was identified as Balkar Singh Thakur Singh (50), he said.

Alert sounded in Punjab
Amritsar: The government has sounded alert in the state after the killing of a Sikh in the firing by guards of Dera Sacha Sauda in Mumbai. Two persons were injured in the firing. The SGPC has sought the immediate arrest of the dera chief.


Sauda Cultists Attack Bombay Sikhs - One Singh Killed, others Injured


Sangat Blocks Bombay-Pune Expressway Situation Tense, Further Protests Planned
Mulund, Mumbai (KP) - On Friday, personal bodyguards of the criminal Sirsa Sauda cultist Gurmeet Ram Rahim opened fire on a group of Sikhs whom were protesting the Bombay visit of the Sirsa cult leader.
Ram Rahim, who is accused of multiple murders and rapes, was visiting a shopping mall in this north-eastern suburb of Bombay when several Sikh youths protested his presence. In response, his bodyguards fired more than 20 rounds of ammunition from their assault rifles into the crowd of Sikhs, resulting in the death of Bhai Balkar Singh of the Bir Khalsa organization and injuring dozens of others.
The Bombay attack brought back the memory of the 1978 Nirankari Sikh massacre at Amritsar Sahib and Kanpur in which dozens of Sikhs were killed by heretic pseudo-Nirankaris.


Criminals Leave Scene after Merciless Killing
According to eyewitnesses the Baba was immediately escorted out of the mall and fled the crime scene within one of the 50 vehicles in his entourage. The news of the attack quickly spread throughout Bombay’s Sikh community, who began blocking traffic in various parts of the city. Sikh activists quickly began to track his caravan and converged to stop the cultists from fleeing.
Realizing the route to the Bombay airport was too dangerous, Ram Rahim‘s 50 vehicle entourage then drove north onto the Pune-Bombay Expressway. As news spread of Ram Rahim’s location, thousands of Sikhs began to converge on the expressway and brought it to a standstill for several hours.


Pune Sangat Block Expressway from North
Meanwhile, Sikhs assembled at a Raensabaee Kirtan program (all night hymn singing) in Puna, upon hearing the news of the Bombay attack, gathered with the local Pune Sangat and split up into several units and began surveillance of the Pune National Airport, the opposite side of the Pune-Bombay Expressway. The protestors then blocked the expressway in hopes of stopping Ram Rahim from escaping through this artery.


One of the protestors assembled on the expressway stated that after several hours of blockage, the Sangat became convinced that Ram Rahim‘s entourage must have taken a detour, and finally allowed the traffic to move. According to the protestors, the Pune police cited them under IPC 135, and summoned them to appear in court.


The Sikh protestors accuse the central and state governments of turning a blind eye towards the transgressions of the Sirsa cult leader. Last year, the Sauda Cult leader dressed himself as Guru Gobind Singh Ji and mimicked the sacred Sikh Amrit-Sanchar ceremony carried out by Guru Gobind Singh Sahib on Vaisakhi of 1699, resulting in international outcry by the Sikh Nation.
Since then, numerous clashes between his followers and the Sikh community have occurred. On May 17th, 2007, Bhai Kanwaljeet Singh of Sunam was martyred by the cultists near one of his deras in Bathinda.


Bhai Balkar Singh is the second Shaheed in the agitation towards bringing the criminal cultist to justice. Reaction to this latest incident was swift, major Sikh organizations, including the Akali Dal Amritsar, Damdami Taksal, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, and the Singh Sabhas demanded the immediate arrest of the cult’s criminal mastermind and his bodyguards.
Large rallies and protests have been planned across Punjab and India this weekend in response to this incident.

Dera supporters open fire on Sikh Protestors in Mumbai, 1 Sikh killed

One killed as securityman of Ram Rahim Baba opens fire

A 50 years old Sikh has been killed in firing by the body guard of Dera Saccha Sauda chief Ram Rahim on Friday outside a suburban mall in Mumbai during a protest against the spiritual guru by a Sikh group which turned violent. A group of Sikhs shouted anti-Dera slogans inside the Nirmal Lifestyles mall in suburban Mulund during a visit by Ram Rahim to the place this evening.
The protest by Sikhs led to altercations between Rahim’s supporters & the Sikh group which turned violent after the group allegedly started pelting stones. Rahim’s bodyguard fired at the crowd in which one person injured. The victim was succumbed after being taken to a nearby hospital. Ram Rahim left the mall soon & his motorcade has been stopped in the jurisdiction of the Khopoli police station in neighbouring Raigad district.
Ram Rahim had drawn the ire of Sikhs for allegedly hurting their religious sentiments after he appeared dressed as Guru Gobind Singh Ji at a public function in Haryana’s Sirsa town where a religious commune headed by him is situated.

Sikh Killed

One person was killed when the security guard of Ram Rahim Singh, the controversial spiritual leader of the Dera Sachcha Sauda sect, fired at protestors, shouting slogans against him at Mulund in North-east Mumbai tonight.
Ram Rahim had come to Mulund to attend a programme at the Nirmal Lifestyle mall at 1930 hrs, when some people, protesting his visit, started ranting slogans.
The security guard, who has not been identified, fired at the protestors, killing one of them and injuring another, police said.
Majority of the demonstrators were from the Sikh community, who blocked the entire stretch of the LBS road in the area, said an eye-witness.
Ram Rahim Baba and his security guard are holed up in a building and the protestors are demanding the arrest of the duo.
Police have cordoned off the area.

Shot by Rapists Bodygaurd

One person was killed on Friday in firing by a bodyguard of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim Singh, which is at loggerheads with the Sikh clergy, during clashes between Sikhs and supporters of the group in a mall in a north-east Mumbai suburb, police said.The clashes occurred during a visit by Singh in the Nirmal Lifestylesmall in suburban Mulund late on Friday evening, they said.A group of Sikhs allegedly went into the mall and started shouting anti-Dera Sacha Sauda slogans. This resulted in altercations between the protestors and Singh's followers after which the former resorted to stone-pelting, they said.Singh's bodyguard fired at the crowd at around 1845 hours during the melee injuring one person, they said, adding the victim succumbed after being taken to a nearby hospital.The Dera Sacha Sauda chief left the mall soon and his motorcade hasbeen stopped in the jurisdiction of the Khopoli police station in neighbouring Raigad district, they said.Singh had drawn the ire of Sikhs for allegedly hurting their religious sentiments after he appeared dressed as Guru Gobind Singh at a public function in Haryana's Sirsa town where a religious commune headed by him is situated.

Comments

Iwas at the scene when this all happened..i was just going to the parking lot. every thing happened in front of me. also inside the mall i saw n number of private guards who were lookin more like goons than guards loaded with weapons which included latest automatic ammunitions.the baba who talks about love and peace was looking like a mafia with such a security.some of the protestors started shouting murdabad slogans.every thing was looking fully prepared..some ppl from baba's side came with open firearms and some with DANDAS, and they jumped on the crowd, i didnt see the gun fires, but i saw they beatup an elderly sardar on the head ..quite a horrifyn scene it was..then later on the protestors did a rasta roko ..luckily after a bit of wait i was home with my car..but when switched the news channels , there was full on jam on the road.

Badal finds new love, it’s Rajiv Gandhi

Akali Dal patron lays foundation stone of campus named after Rajiv Gandhi. With what face will he ever face a widow of the 1984 genocide? What next? A project named after Indira? Abdali? Aurangzeb?

EERIE is the feeling one gets from such action. Just twenty years ago, no one, not even Sukhbir Singh Badal, could have believed that such a thing can happen, will happen. And the perpetrator will be none other than the supreme of the Akali Dal, a Sikh Chief Minister of Punjab who has dabbled in panthic politics for nearly five decades now and whom the community has helped elect a Chief Minister repeatedly.
Every single victim of the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom has been doubly humiliated. The trauma and the sense of shame have been re-visited. The souls of those who were burnt alive, garlanded with burning cycle tyres, could not have been cursed in a worse manner.
The joint national agenda of the Hindu ultra-right wing Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and the now-soft-now-hardcore communalism-propagating Congress are being implemented in Punjab by Sardar Parkash Singh Badal. Welcome! Please step in, and meet the new Indian National Hero: Parkash Singh Badal. God save the Panth.
On June 12, Parkash Singh Badal thought it fit to lay the foundation stone of the new campus of the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL). There was not a murmur of protest from the Akali Dal-BJP leadership at the nomenclature of the Institute, and this when the same government was creating so much of fuss over the nomenclature of the upcoming international airport at Chandigarh.
So much so that Parkash Singh Badal was writing one missive after the other to the Prime Minister to name the Bathinda refinery after the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh and the Chandigarh airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh.
At a time when activists like advocate Harwinder Singh Phoolka and journalists like Manoj Mitta have done so much to push for the course of justice for 1984 genocide victims and demands for a memorial to the victims has been raised by Mitta and many others -- Mitta even suggested the Trilokpuri block in Delhi, the worst site of the massacres -- the Parkash Singh Badal government, the SGPC, the Akali Dal, and even our clergy have remained silent on the issue.
Till, of course, only that moment whne they decided to make the silence more deafening. Not one statement from not one organization, except some honorable exceptions like the Dal Khalsa and a few radical voices, have been heard on Badal backing the Institute named after Rajiv Gandhi.
This is the man whose "When a big tree falls, the earth shakes" shook the subcontinent with an extreme form of display of lack of humanity.
Or does Badal Sahib have a hidden agenda to make the path smoother for the Sikhs in the Indian nation-state? After all, India is a nuclear power nation state with a rising economic clout in the world and a burgeoning middle class. What good will come out of a continuing inimical relationship with New Delhi, particularly when the top two parties with cross-country presence, the Congress and the BJP, agree on their anti-Sikh stance? So, this is his way of mending the relationship with the Congress, headed by Rajiv Gandhi's widow Sonia Gandhi.
After all, Rajiv Gandhi was a young leader and could have made a mistake. Did he not sign an accord with the Sikhs and helped factionalized Akalis to gain power again? Is that Badal Sahib's argument? Then, will it not be better to go the whole hog and name a few institutions after Indira Gandhi. After all, why not show magnanimity, the one thing in abundance that a victim should possess?
Or, better still, at a time when the world is trembling at the thought of Osama bin Laden, and the West is fond of talking about Islamic terrorism, why not iron out the civilisational faults of history and the bitterness of the historical past, and name a college in Badal village or the many new upcoming ventures in Sukhbir Badal's current baby constituency Bathinda after Ahmed Shah Abdali or Nadarshah?
That Badal's backing and foundation stone laying ceremony with a huge portrait of Rajiv Gandhi in the background comes at a time when the Akali Dal and the SGPC seem to have washed of their hands from the issue of raising a memorial to the 1984 Operation Bluestar martyrs is all the more sad.
At the same time, it has filled the average Sikh with rage.
Rage that Badal has gone a step further after tying up his electoral and family fortunes with the Indian establishment represented by the hegemonic forces of Congress, BJP and their many avatars. The silence at the anniversary of Operation Bluestar has been followed up by paying floral tributes to Rajiv Gandhi and naming Law Institute campus after him.
It would have been a different matter if Badal had protested, or even suggested, that a wholesome policy for naming of public institutions be evolved. It is no one's case that we should stop using the airport at Delhi because it is named after Indira Gandhi, but we must demand that airports naming should have a uniform policy.
From attending havans to visiting temples of Lord Parshuram to wearing Mukats to performing aarti on the occasion of Ram Navmi to defending BJP's line on Ram Sethu, Badal is going a step ahead every week. Only a fortnight back, he actually chanted Hare Krishna Hare Rama and asked the rest of the sangat to repeat the chant after him.
As we wrote recently, any quom that disowns its legacy is condemned to live in a denial mode. Badal is pursuing a dangerous luxury. This is a well thought out effort to erase collective memory. Assassins of memories must be pointed out, and it is now up to the Sikh intelligentsia and the sangat to come out in the open and call a spade a spade, a hero of the brahamanical forces a Parkash Singh Badal.

Kalam Nishan Singh

Latest News

Panthic Crisis
Two outside Takhts defy Akal Takht

An unprecedented Panthic crisis has been created in the Sikh Panth with the clergy of Takht Patna Sahib and Hazoor Sahib openly defying the directive and Gurmattas, passed in the meetings of Akal Takht on June 6.
The situation seems to have reached a point of no-return since the Sikh clerics of Punjab have stopped inviting jathedars of both Takhts and took a diametrically opposite stands on the Maryada (Sikh code). Takht Patna Sahib and Takht Hazoor Sahib have already rejected the Nanakshahi Calendar, approved by Akal Takht and SGPC, and continue to recite the Dasam Granth.
The crisis has developed at a time when the Sikh community and different Panthic organisations are busy in chalking out programmes to mark the tercentenary celebrations of the Gurta Gaddi of Guru Granth Sahib in October.
Members of the Sikh community all over the world are of the view that if the jathedars of all five Takhts have failed to resolve their own disputes, it will be difficult for them to solve the problems being faced by the Sikh community.
Most of the problems arose as the Jathedar, Akal Takht, failed to give proper leadership to the Sikh high priests. This was why the community was divided on almost all Sikh centenaries, celebrated during the stint of Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti as Jathedar, Akal Takht.
Various Sikh organisations had been accusing Jathedar Vedanti of passing controversial edicts/directives in the meetings of Akal Takht. It is said Jathedar Vedanti remains on foreign tours most of the time and gives less time to affairs of Akal Takht. Serious allegations were levelled against his personal assistant and relative, Prithipal Singh Sandhu.
The Panthic circles are of the view that the current division between Sikh clergy of Punjab (Akal Takht, Kesgarh Sahib and Damdama Sahib) and two outside Takhts
(Patna Sahib and Hazoor Sahib) would cause irreparable damage to the age-old Sikh institutions. The meeting of Takht Hazur Sahib has clearly announced that directives issued from Akal Takht without the presence of the representatives of all the five takhts won’t be acceptable to the Sikh Panth.
The meeting of Akal Takht, held on June 6, had imposed an undeclared ban on Jathedar Iqbal Singh from attending the meetings and called upon the Sikh Panth to reject all the controversial edicts issued by him (from Takht Patna Sahib).

Breaking News

25 kg explosives recovered in Ludhiana

In the biggest haul of explosives in Punjab in recent times, the Ludhiana rural police (Jagraon) this morning nabbed two alleged terrorists with 24.5 kg of explosives and 25 detonators, enough to trigger 25 major blasts in the state.
The explosives, packed in 195 gelatine sticks, reached here this time through inter-state smuggling, while earlier these used to be smuggled from across the border.
The explosives, as powerful as the RDX, had manufacturing stamp of a Nagpur-based factory. The detonators were brought from Andhra Pradesh.
The police said the exact chemical composition of the explosives would be known after chemical tests.
The arrested youths, Gurbhej Singh, alias Sonu, of Kathunangal in Amritsar and Manjit Singh, alias Mita, of Barde Ke village in Jagraon, both aged less than 25, were said to be unemployed. They have no criminal or terrorist background.
IG Sanjiv Kalra and DIG Ishwar Singh told reporters that SSP Jagraon Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and his team intercepted the two youths during a nakabandi at Canal Bridge in Akhara village in the wee hours today. The explosives were found in a blue suitcase they were carrying on their motor cycle PB-13Q-4804.
The cops were yet to ascertain which terrorist outfit supported them.” Of late, strict cadres of terrorist organisations are diminishing. They are loosely organised and could be helped and aided by one or other organisation,” said SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.
Preliminary questioning of the accused revealed that their main targets were Baba Piara Singh Bhaniarewala, Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief Dera Sacha Sauda and crowded places, including vital installations.
The youths said they were working at the instance of one Gurmeet Singh, alais Bagga, who belonged to Jhajj village near Tanda in Hoshiarpur. He was now based in Hamburg, Germany. Intelligence agencies from across the border also helped them.
The recovered explosives had the mark- Super Power- 90 Solar Explosive Limited village Chak Doe Bazar Gaon in Nagpur district. The detonators were of village Peddakandukur, Vadagiri, Gutta Mandal, Nalsonda district (Andhra Pardesh). Investigation revealed that this gang has its sympathisers in different parts of the country and abroad.
The Jagraon police had a week ago arrested a woman of Fatehgarh Sahib for helping terrorist organisations. One group allegedly helped by her was caught smuggling arms in Jammu a few weeks ago.

Punjab police HC caught with 210 kg drugs

A Sangrur-based head constable Rachan Singh was Sunday caught by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence from near the Radisson Hotel in Delhi with 210 kg of synthetic drugs along with his three accomplices. DRI officials, who conducted a raid at his house at Didba village at Sangrur, seized Rs 13 lakh and were astonished to see two Mitsubishi Lancers there.

The head constable is an international kabaddi player and was recruited in the police under the sports quota. On Saturday he was caught by the team of the DRI department near Radisson hotel when he was carrying the synthetic drugs from Rajasthan to Delhi. The team seized 150 kg of ketamine and 60 kg of amphetamine and a permanent residency card of Canada. The team also seized Rs 13 lakh from his house.

Protesters attack MTV office in Mumbai

The Mumbai MTV office was attacked by a group of protesters on Monday afternoon.
Protesters gathered outside MTV office in Mumbai's Parel area shouting slogans against one promo poster that was put outside the MTV office.
The poster in which a one person belonging to a community was allegedly shown in a compromising position.
After a while the group entered the office and went on a rampage damaging office property and equipment, an employee was hurt.
Police have been informed and police force has been sent to the site.

SGPC Chief supports attack on MTV channel's Mumbai office for hurting Sikh sentiments

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar said that members of a Sikh organization recently attacked the office of a music channel MTV at Mumbai as the channel has hurt the sentiments of Sikhs by put up a defamatory poster.
Talking to media persons on Tuesday after flagging off an ambulance and inaugurating CCTV cameras at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Makkar said that no one has right to hurt sentiments of Sikhs. He said it was not first time when the sentiments of Sikhs were hurt. He said in past such incidents happened several time and the SGPC had repeatedly request the Union government to induct representatives of SGPC in censor board or any other organization which could check the contents of pictures or serial related with Sikh community and stop any violation.
When asked, "Will he justify the attack on MTV office by group of Sikhs", he replied it was not attack. He said it was only protest of Sikhs.
He said earlier there was controversy about comedy –action film 'Singh is King' that Sikhs were pictures in poor shape in the picture. He said when the matter came to notice of the SGPC it immediately swung into action. A meeting was held between SGPC representative and the film producer and all objectionable scenes in pictures have removed. He said that the producer of the picture had also given in writing on Rs 100 affidavit about it. He said now SGPC panel have cleared the picture.
He said a case was recently brought to notice of SGPC that a Jalandhar based publisher had published wrong information about a Sikh Master in its G.K. book but later the published had apologized. He said that such acts should not be done for which one had to apologise later.
He said Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib falls under section 85 is the first Gurdwara where Ambulance have started. He said that if the experiment prove successful it would be implemented in other section 85 Gurdwaras as these are directly under control of SGPC whereas Gurdwara under section 87 are under control of local Gurdwara committees.
On the conflict between Takht Sri Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh and other Jathedars, he said it would be settled amicably. On statement of Giani Iqbal Singh that Takht Patna Sahib is second after Akal Takht and it is competent to take decision after Akal Takht and he(Iqbal Singh) will issue 'white paper' about 'misdeeds' of Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, he said Iqbal Singh has no stand. He said that serious allegations have already leveled on Iqbal Singh so he has no right to work on his present position.
On the recently meeting of the Sikh clergy at Takht Hazoor Singh in which Vedanti was criticized for holding a meeting on June 6 without invitation to Takht Patna Sahib, Makkar refused to comment on it. He said that he will not want to create any controversy. He said that Akal Takht Jathedar had already asked Sikh sangat not to raise any controversy till completion of Gurtagadi functions.
On SAD (A) president Simranjit Singh Mann demanding his resignation, Makkar said that Mann used to issue unnecessary statement. There is no base of Mann and his party in Punjab.
On police protection to Sikh pilgrims to Hemkhund Sahib in Uttranchal, Makkar said that it was brought to his notice by Sant Beant Singh that there is clash between Sikh pilgrims and Uttranchal residents. He said he immediately discussed the matter with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Badal further take up matter with Uttranchal CM so now heavy security is provided to deal any untoward situation.
He also appreciated the British police effort which spent a whopping 1, 00,000 pound trying to adapt a helmet to fit over a Sikh cop's turban.
Telling about his recent Ahmadabad (Gujarat) visit, Makkar said that a Sikh devotee had given 20,000 yard land free of cost to SGPC to set up a Parchar Mission there.
Expressing his annoying with Railway Minister Laloo Parshad Yadav, Makkar said that he had sought appointment from Laloo's Personal Assistant(PA) several times to fix meeting with the minister for training some special trains for forthcoming 'Gurtagudi Diwas' functions but the minister did not give meeting time till today. He said that it is indifferent attitude of the Railway Minister. He said that he was recently in Ahmadabad but there is no train from Ahmadabad to Amritsar if any devotees want to board train to pay obeisance at Darbar Sahib.

Latest News from Jathedars and 6th June meeting

Text of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Resolution on 6th June 2008

Translation:

Today, date 23 Jeth Nanakshahi 540 (6th June 2008), the Five Singh Sahibaan have gathered at Sri Akaal Takht Sahib and passed

GURMATTA - 1

The 300th anniversary of the Gurgaddi diwas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is an opportunity to highlight the concept and authority of “Guru Granth-Guru Panth”. The last order of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was “Sabh Sikhan Ko Hukam Hai, Guru Maaniyo Granth” and that the Panth accept Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as his Living Light and stand strong on this. To overcome all challenges, the Sikh Panth has sought guidance from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Debates presented in relation to Sri Dasam Granth are totally needless. No one has the right to present a questionable debate on the writings from Dasam Granth which the Panth has accepted and uses for the Sikh Rehit Maryada, Nitnem and Amrit Sanchaar. The whole Panth should be reminded that Sri Dasam Granth is an inseparable part of Sikh history, but Guru Gobind Singh Ji did not give it equal status to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and for this reason no other Granth can be Prakaash equal to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Joginder Singh

Jathedaar

Support for Patna Takht Jathedar

Criticising Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, for holding a meeting on June 6 without invitation to Takht Hazoor Sahib and Patna Sahib, a meeting of the Sikh clergy at Takht Hazoor Sahib today announced that any directive or appeal, issued without the presence of Jathedars of all five Takhts could not be acceptable to the Sikh Panth. The Gurmatta, signed by Sikh high priests of Takht Hazoor Sahib, including Giani Kulwant Singh, Jathedar, also took a serious note of the humiliation to Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar, Patna Sahib, who was stopped from entering for a meeting at Akal Takht secretariat on June 6. Rejecting the Gurmatta, passed at Akal Takht secretariat on June 6, the Sikh clergy of Takht Patna Sahib also took a serious note of taking up the case of Prof Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of Takht who was declared permanent “Tankhaiyya” (guilty of religious misconduct) by Takht Patna Sahib for challenging the authenticity of Dasam Granth. The meeting of Takht Hazoor Sahib said it was unfortunate that the case of Prof Darshan Singh was taken up though he had not made any formal representation in this regard. The meeting of Takht Hazoor Sahib was held in violation of the directive issued from Akal Takht a few days ago in which Jathedar Vedanti had asked the Sikh sangat not to raise any controversy till October.

Shaheedi of Guru Arjan Ji Maharaaj

Day 1 of Torture

Guru Jee was not given anything to eat or drink. He was not allowed to sleep at night. He was kept awake. Guru Sahib bore all this calmly. He remained immersed in Simran and repeated from his lips, "WaaheGuroo, WaaheGuroo, WaaheGuroo..." and sang Shabads from Gurbani.

Day 2 of Torture

On the following day, Chandu made the Guru sit in a red-hot caldron. He filled the vessel with water. He ordered his men to light a fire under the copper vessel. The water began to get hot. After a time, the water began to boil. It SCALDED the Guru Sahib's body. But Guru Jee sat calmly and quietly. He felt no pain, nor did he cry out or even sigh. He felt no anger against those who were torturing him. He remained absorbed in the sweet remembrance of Waheguru and repeated,
"All is happening, O Waheguru, according to Thy Will. Thy Will is ever sweet to me."
The boiling water made the Guru's flesh soft and left blisters all over the body.

Day 3 of Torture

On the third day, Chandu ordered his men, "Make some sand red hot in iron pans. Seat the Guru in boiling Water. Then pour the red hot sand on his head and body". The water boiled Guru Sahib's flesh from below. The burning red hot sand burned Guru Jee's head and body from above. The persons engaged in torturing him were wet with sweat. They felt most uncomfortable because of the heat. It was the hottest summer month. But Guru Sahib kept calm and quiet. Again, Guru Jee felt no pain, nor did he cry out, sigh or feel anger. He kept thinking of Waheguru and doing Simran. Guru Jee repeated: Teraa kee-aa meethaa laagai.
O Waheguru! Your actions seem so sweet to me.
Har naam padaarath naanak maaNgai.
Nanak begs for the treasure of the Naam, the Name of the Lord.
His friend and devotee, Mian Mir, a Muslim saint, rushed to see him. When Mian Mir saw the ghastly scene, he cried out and said, "O Master! I cannot bear to see these horrors inflicted on thee. If you permit me, I would demolish this tyrant rule (Mian Mir is said to have possessed supernatural powers at that time)." The Guru smiled and asked Mian Mir to look towards the skies. It is said that Mian Mir saw Angels begging the Guru's permission to destroy the wicked and the proud.
Guru Sahib said, "All is happening in accordance with waheguru's will. Men who stand for Truth have often to suffer. Their sufferings give stregnth to the cause of Truth. Go, brother. Pray for me. Pray for the success of my cause. Pray for victory to truth."
Mian Mir asked, why was he enduring the suffering at the hands of his vile sinners when he ossesseth superpowers?
The Guru replied,"I bear all this torture to set an example to the Teachers of True Name, that they may not lose patience or rail at God in affliction. The true test of faith is the hour of misery. Without examples to guide them, ordinary persons' minds quail in the midst of suffering." Upon this Mian Mir departed commending the Guru's fortitude and singing his praises.

Day 4 of Torture

On the fourth day, Guru Jee was made to sit on an IRON PLATE. It was heated from below. The iron plate became RED HOT with the heat. Guru Jee's flesh began to be ROASTED. Burning RED-HOT SAND was poured on his body. Guru Sahib sat calm and quite, without a cry or sigh, feeling no physical pain. He sat with his mind fixed on Waheguru and physically living the message of Gurbaani and accepting the Will of Waheguru sweetly.

Day 5 of Torture

On the fifth day, GChandu thought to suffocate him in a fresh cowhide, in which he was to be sewn up. Instead the Guru asked for a bath in Ravi river which flowed embracing the walls of Lahore city. Chandu revelled at the thought that the Guru's body full of blisters, would undergo greater pain when dipped in cold water and hepermitted him to bathe in the river. The soldiers were sent to escort the Guru. The Master's disciples saw him leaving. He looked at them still forbidding any action. He said,"Such is the Will of my God, submit to the Divine Will, move not, stand calm against ll woes."
Crowds watched the Master standing in water and having a dip. Lo! The light blended with Light and the body was found nowhere. Hail to the Master! Thou art Wonderful- Martyr, the greatest. Thou art the Greatest!
Guru Arjan sowed the seed of martyrdom which largely flourished after him and became the heritage of the Sikhs.

Persecution of Bibi Ranjit Kaur Continues

The arrest of Bibi Ranjit Kaur in relation to the Shingar Cinema bomb blasts has sparked an outcry by Sikh organizations worldwide. Along with terming her as a conspirator in the Shingar blasts, the police has identified her as a supporter of the Babbar Khalsa Militant organization. Bibi Ranjit Kaur, aged 38, was arrested last week from her house in the village Khamano of Fatehgarh Sahib District by the Ludhiana Police. Bibi Ranjit Kaur is an amritdhari Gursikh and runs a small tailoring booth in her village to feed her family. Apparently, the arrest of Bibi Ranjit Kaur has surprised everyone in her village. She is said to be a very religious person and always supporting of others. Neighbors of Bibi Ranjit Kaur do not accept the police claim that Bibi Ranjit Kaur received foreign aid to fund terrorism in the State. According to SSP Gurpreet Bhullar (Ludhiana-rural), Bibi Ranjit Kaur was involved in pro-Khalistan activities. As alleged by the SSP, her husband is a leading member of the Shiromani Akali Dal (PP). Furthermore, Bhullar alleged that she was in contact with one of the arrested members of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) in Jammu. Bibi Ranjit Kaur however denied having any links with terrorist outfits. While talking to the press, she claimed that the police had falsely fabricated her in this case. It should be noted that this is the first time Bibi Ranjit Kaur has been arrested by the police. Despite there not being any past criminal record, the police are still adamant that the Bibi’s interrogations could lead to a crackdown on terrorists. Ever since being arrested, it has been reported that Bibi Ranjit Kaur has faced severe torture at the hands of the police. Although Bibi Ji’s remand was to end on June 10, she had to be transferred to the Civil Hospital as she could not last through the [harsh] ‘interrogation sessions’. While talking to the media at the hospital, Ranjit Kaur stated that she was beaten by the police, and also electric shocked. Bibi Ranjit Kaur was arrested from her house randomly around 3:30 in the afternoon when two men dressed in plain clothes accompanied by a woman asked for her to be taken to the police station. While identifying themselves as Ludhiana Policemen, they promised that Bibi Ranjit Kaur would be allowed to return after a brief police interview. However, the police instead sought her remand from the court and did not allow her to return home. The arrest of Bibi Ranjit Kaur seems suspicious. In the past, the police have picked up Sikh women and fabricated false cases. Three years ago, a Sikh woman named Bibi Manjot Kaur was arrested from her residence in Chandigarh for allegedly having associations with Jathedar Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara. However, after strong pressure from several Panthic organizations, the Police had to release her as they failed to present any credible evidence against her. She was however, forced to remain in Police custody for days where she was tortured and interrogated. Also not very long ago, Bibi Parveen Kaur, a resident of Haryana, was also mysteriously arrested by the Police. The wife of Jathedar Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara also remains lodged in jail although she played no part in any pro-Khalistan activities. Panthic organizations are once again expected to launch state-wide protests to seek the release of Sikh women from barbaric Punjab Police Cells.

News regarding Jathedars

Dal Khalsa for forced retirement of Jathedars

Even as the Sikh Nation Organisation, headed by Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa, has appealed for a truce among Sikh high priests, Dal Khalsa has urged the authorities concerned for compulsory retirement of all Jathedars.
Secretary-general of the Dal Khalsa Kanwarpal Singh said the warring Jathedars had brought shame to the Sikh community and they had no right to lead the Sikh Panth.
There’s a feeling among Sikhs that all five Jathedars have become a liability, he said, demanding that the Jathedars either resolve their disputes amicably or quit forthwith to put an end to religious controversies, which are a cause of concern for Sikh diaspora the world over.
We don’t think that Jathedar Vedanti will ever be able to restore the dignity of the office he has been holding since long, he said.
Gaini Iqbal Singh’s performance in the capacity of the Jathedar of Takht Patna Sahib was too bitter to swallow, the Dal Khalsa leader added.
President of Sikh Nation Organisation maintained that personal ego had no place in the Sikh way of life, which is based on kindness, truthfulness, love and humility. Recent religious controversy was due to clash of egos of the high priests.
He said whatever happened on June 6 in Amritsar during a meeting of the high priests was a “blatant violation” of Sikh Maryada. He maintained that the high priests of all five Takhts were equal in status and powers.

Latest News from Jathedars

Patna priests reject Akal Takht Gurmatta Impeach Vedanti, 4 other high priests

The Sikh clergy of Patna Sahib today impeached Jathedars of all three Takhts of Punjab (Akal Takht, Takht Damdama Sahib and Takht Kesgarh Sahib), besides the Head Granthi and Granthi of the Golden Temple, debarring them from taking part in any panthic activities.
Takht Patna Sahib has also rejected the Gurmatta passed by Sikh high priests at Akal Takht on June 6. The action of the Takht has created chaos in the panthic circles. Earlier, Takht Patna Sahib had excommunicated Prof Darshan Singh, former Jathedar of Akal Takht. His excommunication was rejected through the Gurmatta passed by Akal Takht on June 6.
The Patna Sikh clergy took serious view of the humiliation of Giani Iqbal Singh, who was roughed up and not allowed to attend the Akal Takht meeting held here to mark Ghallughara Divas.
Declaring them “mahan doshi” (guilty of religious misconduct) for rejecting the directives of the Sikh clergy of Patna Sahib, Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar, Patna Sahib, and other four high priests resolved that the high priests of Punjab had tried to denigrate Takht Patna Sahib.
The Gurmatta of Takht Patna Sahib reiterates that the Takht is the temporal authority of the Sikhs since it is related to the birth of the Tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh.
The Gurmatta further states that Prof Darshan Singh was declared Tankhaya and was cleared of serious charges by Akal Takht under a “deep-rooted” conspiracy.

Latest about AC units at Darbar Sahib

ACs at Golden Temple
UT resident files petition in HC

The protests being raised by both Sikh and heritage conservationists across the world against the installation of two giant four ton air-conditioners (ACs) in the Golden Temple sanctum sanctorum took a leap ahead with the recent writ petition filed by a city resident Malkit Singh Jandiala.
The petitioner Malkit Singh, who is also the convener of the “Gurmat Sangeet Society”, has filed the writ in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and it will be taken up after the vacations on July 3.
Surprisingly, the SGPC had passed a resolution for installation of the ACs - one in the sanctum sanctorum and the other on the first floor of the Golden Temple.
Sikhs all over the world and heritage experts expressed dissent towards it as the decorations on the wall would get damaged while installing them.
The variation in micro climate because of the installation of the ACs would also damage the decorations.
The walls in Golden Temple are decorated with in-laid marble panel, frescoes or clad with gilded copper embossed sheets.
However, the greatest threat from these six-feet monsters is to the beautiful frescoes and heritage building.
Interestingly, the resolution of installing the ACs, security cameras and mobile jammers in the shrine was passed by the SGPC for the benefit of its granthis and VVIP visitors.
The decision was reportedly taken on the request Surinder Kaur Badal, the Punjab CM’s wife, who is a regular visitor at the gurdwara every month.
The resolution has been criticised worldwide by many organisations. Conservationists are of the view that the walls of Harminder Sahib are made of burnt bricks and lime mortar and hence there was no need to install ACs.

Breaking News Flash

Takht Hazoor Sahib rejects Akal Takht Gurmatta

In a jolt to Jathedar, Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Takht Hazoor Sahib today decided, in principle, to reject the Gurmatta passed by the Sikh clergy at Akal Takht on June 6.
Jathedar, Patna Sahib, Giani Iqbal Singh had already rejected the religious resolutions passed at a meeting of Sikh high priests at Akal Takht secretariat. Talking to The Tribune from Abchal Nagar (Maharashtra), Giani Kulwant Singh, Jathedar, Takht Hazoor Sahib, said any decision without the presence of the representatives of all five Takhts had no value.
He said it was a matter of concern that Takht Hazoor Sahib and Takht Patna Sahib were not invited to the meeting of Akal Takht to take arbitrary decisions without opposition.
Takht Hazoor Sahib has deputed senior functionaries to collect facts, including the copy of the controversial Gurmatta. The meeting of Sikh high priests at Akal Takht on June 6 had put undeclared ban on the entry of Giani Iqbal Singh on the pretext that he had been misusing his authority as Jathedar. Takht Hazoor Sahib believes the controversial decisions taken at Akal Takht secretariat, including appeal made to Sikh masses to ignore the decisions of Giani Iqbal Singh, are “most unfortunate” which aim at dividing the Sikh clerics.
Takht Hazoor Sahib has also supported the stand of Giani Iqbal Singh and other Sikh high priests of Takht Patna Sahib on Dasam Granth. Both Takhts believe Dasam Granth was penned by Guru Gobind Singh.
Jathedar Kulwant Singh has also taken a serious view of allowing breakaway group of dera Wadbhag Singh to join Sikhism. He said a formal decision regarding Dera Wadbhag Singh would be taken by Takht Hazoor Sahib shortly.
Coming heavily on Jathedar Vedanti, Bhai Ranjit Singh, a former Jathedar, Akal Takht, has said the Sikhs had snapped ties with Baba Wadbhag Singh and his followers during Guru’s period. He said time had come to remove Vedanti as Jathedar, Akal Takht, for his alleged violation of the Maryada.
Bhai Ranjit Singh called upon Sikh masses to reject Giani Vedanti as Jathedar. He alleged it was for the first time Akal Takht has put its official stamp on a religious dera working in violation of the established Sikh Maryada since the period of the Sikh Gurus.

The month of June full of martyrdom for sikhs - Part 4

7th June

GurSikhs from rural Punjab marched to defend Sri Darbar Sahib despite the heavy presence of armed forces, living up to Sant Jarnail Singh Ji's words "Don't Spare anyone who insults Guru Ji!"
The Sikh soldier rebellion began, they wanted to stop the attack of Sri Darbar Sahib. They were fired upon with helicopers and thousands of Sikh marchers were shot dead. Several thousand Sikhs, including women and small children were arrested.
The army deliberately set fire to the Sikh Reference Library. Valuable archives and material of significant historical importance were destroyed in this fire. This was yet another extremely sad incident. The army claims that the library caught fire during crossfire. The fire was deliberately set by the army either on June 7 or 8.

Bhindranwale is still alive in the hearts of all the Sikhs.

News Flash

Sri Dasam Granth Sahib is an inseparable Scripture of the Sikh Panth

A special meeting of the Singh Sahibans took place as scheduled on June 6th at Sri Akal Takht Sahib. The conclave was called by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and SGPC President Avtar Makkar, and had several crucial pending topics on its agenda. A meeting between the Sikh Jathedars had been long overdue after Jathedar Vedanti returned from his lengthy overseas parchar tour.
According to the press release by the Akal Takht Sahib secretariat, several important gumattas were reportedly passed in the meeting.
Most notably, Sri Akal Takht Sahib re-iterated its stand on the validity of Sri Dasam Granth and warned the scripture’s detractors to cease and desist from their mischievous parchar.
Some of the Gurmattas include:
· Pronouncement of the Supremacy of Sri Akal Takht Sahib over the other four Takhts.
· Sri Dasam Granth being an inseparable Scripture of the Sikh Panth
· Sikh Sangat asked not to criticize Sri Dasam Granth and its contents.
· Ragi Darshan Singh, Sikh institutions and organizations warned not to utilize Panthic stages for Anti-Sikh Parchar.

Giani Iqbal Singh banned

Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar Takhat Sri Patna Sahib, surprisingly, was not allowed to attend the scheduled meeting by the Akal Takht Sahib Management and SGPC task force, meanwhile ex-Jathedar Kewal Singh of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib was allowed in and out of the complex without restrictions.
There were several tense moments with heated verbal exchanges between Giani Iqbal Singh and the task force employee who ridiculed Giani Iqbal Singh over the charges of bigamy that are shadowing him. Giani Iqbal Singh reportedly left in disgust after realizing his presence would not be entertained by Vedanti and other attendees.
Last week, while announcing the meeting jointly with SGPC President Avtar Makkar, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti told members of the press that amongst several important issues, the ‘issue’ of Sri Dasam Granth was to be the key aspect of the meeting. In addition, while invalidating Giani Iqbal Singh’s right to excommunicate other Sikhs, Jathedar Vedanti upheld that the controversies related to of Prof. Darshan Singh were also to be discussed at the meeting.
Jathedar Vedanti termed the revised controversy on Dasam Granth Sahib as very unfortunate. He had previously asked all Panthic groups to remain away from indulging in any controversial issues during the 300th anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s Guruship, but this mandate passed by Akal Takhat Sahib was completely rejected by mischievous persons to divert the Khalsa Panth's attention.
During another meeting at Fatehgarh Sahib, Makkar announced that a committee of Sikh Scholars has been established which will further work to raise awareness of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Granth within Sikh circles—especially amongst those that deny it’s authenticity. When asked about Jathedar Vedanti’s stand on Khalistan, Avtar Makkar said that this issue was not discussed in the meeting. According to Makkar, the meeting was called at Fatehgarh Sahib to discuss the issue of Prof. Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and Bibi Parveen Kaur who have been wrongfully arrested by the police.

Don't Misuse Stages for creating Controversy : Ex-SGPC Member

The former secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Manjit Singh Calcutta, criticized Ragi Darshan Singh for raking up unnecessarily over the issue of Sri Dasam Granth during the 300th year centenary of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
In an exclusive interview with Panthic Weekly, the former chief secretary of SGPC, who was once a close confident of Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra, denounced the use of Gurdwara stages for controversial subjects and issues.
He stated that when Ragi Darshan Singh was the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, he had never raised any issues against the Granth, but now seems to be doing so needlessly. He reiterated that the Ragi himself used to recite Dasam Bani on his (commercial) cassettes and was even promoting the yatra to Hemkunt Sahib, the Himalayan site mentioned in Sri Dasam Granth where Guru Gobind Singh Ji meditated in his previous life.

Sardar Manjit Singh reiterated that the negative attacks on Sri Dasam Granth needed to stop along with others issues that were creating division within the Panth, and stressed he has always tried to persuade those who were falling into this trap. Such issues are to be solved by Panthic representation at Sri Akal Takht Sahib and not on our local stages.

Ghallughara Divas

The slogan of “Khalistan and Bhindranwale zindabad’ were raised in front of Akal Takht by SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann to mark the 24th anniversary of Operation Bluestar here today even as Ghallughara Divas passed off peacefully. Though the SGPC had deployed its task force to deal with any untoward incident, some youths were seen attending the function with firearms.
However, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar of the Takht, in his message delivered from the Takht, urged the Sikhs to beware of those forces who planned to challenge the age-old Sikh institutions for ulterior motives. The Jathedar honoured kin of many slain militant leaders, including Sant Bhindranwale, Major-Gen Shabeg Singh and Bhai Amrik Singh at the Takht.
Jathedar Vedanti asked the Sikhs to come on a single platform in a real tribute to all those who had made supreme sacrifice during Operation Bluestar.
Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar of Patna Sahib, was also sitting at Akal Takht when Jathedar Vedanti criticised those who had been challenging the age-old Sikh institutions.
After the ardas at the Takht, the SAD (A) president criticised the ruling Akali Dal for continuing alliance with the BJP despite the fact that L.K. Advani, former Deputy Prime Minister, had confessed in his autobiography that the BJP had provoked the Central government for ordering Operation Bluestar. He said Advani had also used derogatory remarks against Sant Bhindranwale in the book.
The All-India Sikh Students Federation, led by Karnail Singh Pirmohammad, oranised a “Khalsa Insaaf March” to mark the anniversary of the operation.
The Akal Purkh Ki Fauj, headed by SGPC member Jaswinder Singh Advocate, organised a blood camp outside the Golden Temple complex to pay tributes to those Sikhs who were killed in the operation.
Meanwhile, Dal Khalsa activists assembled outside the main entrance of Darbar Sahib and pledged to carry on with the struggle for “Khalsa Raj” in a democratic manner.
The Khalsa march was organised by the All-India Sikh Students federation, Damdami Taksal, Sikhs for Justice and Riots Victims Society from Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh.


Wadhbhag sect plea accepted

In a bid to bring the sect promoted by Baba Wadhbhag Singh to the mainstream of the Sikh religion, Akal Takht today accepted the plea of Bhai Swarnjit Singh, vice-president of the Singh Managing Sewa Committee, Tap Asthan Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Himachal Pradesh. He submitted himself at the Takht and accepted that he would abide by the tenets of Guru Granth Sahib.
The resolution adopted by the Takht pointed out that Baba Wadhbhag Singh had been involved in some controversial literature and now Bhai Swarnjit Singh had come forward to literally wipe out the old controversies and return to the panthic fold.

The month of June full of martyrdom for sikhs - Part 3

6th June

Indian Army occupied the Sikh Shrines, archives, libraries, museums. Most of them were later set abalze.
The fascist Indian Armed Forces, under the orders of Indira Gandhi (then prime minister) and Zail Singh (then President) launched the final assault on the Golden Temple complex.
Today, the whole Sikh Nation salutes all those GurSikh martyrs who gave their lives while protecting the sanctity of Sri Akal Takhat and Sri Darbar Sahib. So many GurSikhs were killed that although the army paid Rs. 50 for picking up a dead body and loading it onto the awaiting trucks, there weren't enough people to get this work done. People clearing dead bodies were also given permission for retain all valuables recovered from the body. The most notable GurSikhs included Jarnail Singh Bhindrawalae, Amrik Singh and General Shahbeg Singh.
Giani Puran Singh, Darbar Sahib's high priest, was told by the soldiers that the bodies of Bhindranwalae, Amrik Singh and General Shahbeg Singh were found in the courtyard of Sri Akal Takhat. Ropes were tied to the body of Gen. Shahbeg Singh. His body seemed to have been dragged from Sri Akal Takhat.
Additionally, the indian army occupied the Sikh Shrines, archives, libraries, and museums. Most of them were later set abalze and 37 other Gurdwaras were attacked.

The month of June full of martyrdom for sikhs - Part 2

5th June 1984

A fierce battle in the Sri Darbar Sahib Complex continued as the Sri Akal Takhat was attacked with heavy artillery and tanks.

"Even if it results in my body being cut to small pieces I shall still fight against injustice."

"Please come under the fold of Satguru (the one and only True God), take Amrit read the Bani (Scriptures) and talk among yourselves of the Panth and of the Kesari Nishan Sahib (the Sikh flag) and of your true leader the Guru Granth Sahib Ji .....and when the time comes for confrontation don't kill the poor, don't molest the women and don't trouble the old, but don 't spare anyone who insults Guru Ji!" - The words of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhinderwale

The month of June full of martyrdom for sikhs - Part 1

4th June in History

1984 Operation Bluestar: Indian armed forces invaded Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar and many other shrines.Thousands of Sikhs killed. The security forces started firing upon the Golden Temple complex. GurSikh freedom fighters responded with fire. Despite Indian army's repeated notice of surrender, GurSikh freedom fighters refused and giercely faced their onslaught. The army sorrounded the Golden Temple complex and started firing at 4:50 AM. Thousands of Sikhs were killed. Additionally, many other shrines were also attacked. There was a media blackout in Punjab at this time, thousands of sikhs men killed, sikh women raped and children abused and killed.

Breif History of Operation Bluestar

June 3, 1984, the Martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev: that was the day the Army chose to surround Golden temple. The onslaught started two days later on the night of June 5 around 7 p.m. The total number of people killed during Operation Blue Star at Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab and other gurudwaras as well as the marching villagers and Army deserters is more than 12,000 in numbers.

Mary Anne Weaver a British correspondent in her report to Sunday Times, London June 17, 1984, observed "not since independence has the Army been used in such numbers"

The rest of Punjab was flooded with soldiers to put down internal rebellion. The specially picked and trained Indian soldiers were supported by tanks and armoured personnel carriers and yet it took them more than 72 hours of continuous all-out battle to gain control of the shrine which was defended by followers of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Brahm Chellany, the only foreign correspondent who managed to remain in Amritsar after the government had ordered them out, reported the statements of doctors and police officials that many of the Sikhs killed in the attack had been shot at point-blank range with their hands behind their backs. Some of these bodies with hands tied behind the back were photographed. This is also borne out by the testimonies of survivors. While the Darbar Sahib was under attack, other Army units were battling their way into many other gurudwaras in Punjab.

"The Army which had suffered a heavy toll in three days of battle went berserk and killed every Sikh who could be found inside the temple complex. They were hauled out of the rooms, brought to corridors on the circumference of the temple and with their hands tied behind their back, were shot in cold blood. Among the victims were many old men women and children."

The Latest - AC units at Shi Darbar Sahib

Saadh Sangat Ji the SGPC has gone a step too far to destroy Darbar Sahib. SGPC president Makhar has declined calls to remove the AC units.

After having withdrawn its plan to install Air Conditioners in Sri Harmandir Sahib Complex last May, the Shiromani Gurdwara Committee has gone ahead with the abandoned plans by installing two heavy duty Air Conditioners in the upper floor of Sri Harmandir Sahib. This move by the SGPC has drawn flack as these developments were made without consultation from any Sikh experts.

"The move came after ‘commands’ from Surinder Badal, wife of Parkash Badal (SAD), as she visits Sri Harmandir Sahib frequently."

While talking to the press, a high profile SGPC member alleged that the move came after ‘commands’ from Bibi Surinder Badal, wife of Parkash Badal (SAD), as she visits Sri Harmandir Sahib frequently. Furthermore, according to the SGPC President Avtar Makkar, since several VIPs pay homage at the complex throughout the year, the air conditioners were installed to better accommodate the foreigners. Avtar Makkar has held that the installation of air conditioners was done without modifying the centuries old complex in any way. However, a panel of experts opposing the move has argued that varying temperatures within the complex will surely prove to be dangerous to the magnificent and unmatched frescos and delicate art work. Adding to the list of those opposed to the SGPC move, Balwinder Singh from Guru Nanak Dev University has argued that the work is against the heritage of the Sri Harmandir Sahib. He added that the complex was built in a way to provide a natural cooling effect and installation of AC’s will be hazardous.

Initially, Gurmit Rai, a renowned heritage conservationist and Director of Cultural Resource Conservation Initiative had also openly condemned the plans of the SGPC last year. Ms. Rai argued that installing the air-conditioner would damage the floor and the walls of the building while the compressor that has to be installed outside could cause electric hazards and noise problems.

Several SGPC members had also expressed their concerns over the installation of the air conditioners. Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, executive member of the SGPC, said the air-conditioners were not needed and instead suggested that higher SGPC officials work on eradicating the pollution problem near Darbar Sahib, as that would automatically solve the high temperature issue. Former SGPC member Manjit Singh Calcutta also denounced the plan as terrible. He said that the Sikhs visited Harmandir Sahib to seek spiritual security and not physical relief.