Warning given to Shiv Sena and Congress party by Sikh Organizations

Sikh Organization led by Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu, Damdami Taksal by Dhumma and Sikh Students Federation led by S. Parmjeet Singh Gazi on monday reacted sharply to the criticism of installation of portrait of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale inside Sikh museum in the Golden Temple complex at Amritsar.These organizations have warned of dire consequences if Congress party and other outfits mainly Shiv Sena didn't stop interfering in the Sikh affairs.

PPCC president Rajinder kaur Bhattal on the other hand met Punjab Governor Gen.(Retd) J.F.Rodrigues and demanded to remove the portrait of Sikh militant leader from the museum.Daljit Singh Bittu while addressing a press conference here said that Sikh community would not tolerate attempts to malign their martyrs. "If anti-Sikh offensive continued, severe punishment would be given by Sikhs", Bittu said in hard hitting statement. He was reacting to a statement by a faction of Shiv sena that they will go to Amritsar to remove the portrait of Sant Bhinderanwale, whom they see as "killer" of thousands of Hindus.

Bittu said that Congress and other parties has no business to mingle in Sikh affairs. This is for the Sikhs to decide who are their martyrs. He said that Congress and other organizations were pushing Punjab into circumstances that led to militancy in early 80's.He also stated that Sikh reaction would be spontaneous if anybody tried to malign the name of Sant Bhinderanwale. He thanked SGPC for installing the portrait though it is belated action.Harnam Singh Dhuma serving chief of Damdami Taksal in a separate statement in Amritsar warned the PPCC chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal to stop criticism against the installation of portrait Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale in the Sikh museum of Golden Temple in holy city of Amritsar.

Talking to the media, he described his predecessor Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale as martyr of Sikhism as he had laid down his life for the cause of Sikhism. Dhuma urged the UPA President Sonia Gandhi to refrain Bhattal against the criticism of installation of portrait of Sant Bhinderanwale in the Sikh museum of Golden Temple.Warning the Congress party, the Sikh Student Federation (Mehta) yesterday asked the party to stop interfering in the internal matters of Sikhs. Sikh Students Federation made following declaration as well raised following points before media:

The Decision of installing portrait of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhinderanwale at Sikh Museum in Sri Darbar Sahib Complex is manifestation of inner feelings of the Sikh Nation. It is the decision of Khalsa Panth and Sikh Students Federation stand by it.

Communal Political Parties like Congress and BJP, who are guilty of killing thousands innocent people should immediately stop their propaganda against great Sikh Martyr of 20 th Century. SSF criticizes statements of Balbir Punj of BJP and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal of Congress, stating that they have no right to say anything on decisions taken by the Khalsa Panth.

Congress is a party responsible of killing thousands of innocent Sikhs in Punjab, Delhi and at other places. Bhattal is serving this communal party just because of selfishness so they have no moral right to speak about Sikh Martyrs and Sikh Principles.

Sikh Students Federation takes strong note of statements of Shiv Sena and Hindu Surakhya Samity and warns them to immediately stop their statements and activates which aims at opposing decisions of Sri Akal Takht. Statement of Pawan Kumar of Shiv Sena to hold statewide protest against decision of Akal Takht amounts to a challenge to the whole Sikh Nation and is bound to disturb peace of Punjab. Statement of Mahant Sanjeev Hari of Hindu Surakhya Samity that who ever shall enter the Darbar Sahib Complex and bring Photo of Sant Bhindranwale out of Sikh Museum shall be heavily rewarded by his organizations is a challenge to the Sikhs. No Sikh can tolerate such statements or activities as it amounts to planning an attack to Sri Darbar Sahib. These statements and activities aims at terrorizing the Sikhs. State should ban the activities of these terrorist organization otherwise the Panth shall be bound to follow its' own path.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaaj Da Parkaash Puraab

Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaaj Da 538th Parkaash Puraab

Happy Gurpurab to all Sangat!

On November 24, 2007 many millions of spiritually inclined people around the planet will celebrate the 538th birth anniversary of the most widely respected of saints in the world, Baba Nanak. Baba ji was born in 1469 and brought a universal message of peace, love, unity, mutual respect, service and dedication to all of humankind. He turned people from violence to peace; he converted tyrants into compassionate beings; and he changed painful societies' into blissful communities. People of all faiths listened to his message and all gained from his wise and sacred words.

Out of respect for his wisdom and fascination for his beautiful poetry, many thousands of followers heeded his words and changed their way of life. Today in these violent and turbulent times, many millions continue to gain from his spiritual insight and lead a tranquil and peaceful existence treading on the path that he established – his teaching enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib are a beacon to many millions in the world. He never asked anyone to change their religion; all he said was "If you desire eternal bliss, O Nanak, ever remember the Lord in meditation" .He asked all to mend their ways, to remember God and do good deeds.
The message of Nanak is today propagated throughout the world in the sacred words of the Guru Granth Sahib which says "… I teach both Hindus and Muslims" and "The Muslim God Allah and the Hindu God Paarbrahm are one and the same" . To the Hindus, the Guru says: "He is a true Pandit (Hindu priest), who instructs his own mind" and to the Muslim, "Repeat the prayer of good deeds, and then, you may call yourself a Muslim" Nanak's achievements have been recognised by peoples of all faiths and much respect is showered on this "Saint of God". The Supreme body of the Bahá’í faith have called Nanak: "….saint of the highest order". The Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama said, "Saints like Guru Nanak make their presence in this weary world in order to show the right path to the suffering humanity by their personal sacrifice and example. The message of Guru Nanak was a great blessing at a time when India was facing a great crisis".

Sikhs must cease to think of their faith as just another good religion and must begin to think in terms of Sikhism being the religion of this new age". Ms. Pearl Buck, Nobel laureate in her foreword to the translation of the holy Sikh scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib wrote, "Perhaps this sense of unity is the source of power I find in these volumes. They speak to persons of any religion or of none. They speak for the human heart and the searching mind."

Bhai Gurdas writes about the birth of Guru Nanak Dev, “With the birth of Guru Nanak, the mist of ignorance and falsehood disappeared and there was the light of righteousness in the world.” Satgur Nanak pargatya miti dhundh jagg chanan hoa. ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਿਆ ਮਿਟੀ ਧੁੰਧ ਜਗ ਚਾਨਣ ਹੋਆ ॥ ਜਿਉਂ ਕਰ ਸੂਰਜ ਨਿਕਲਿਆ ਤਾਰੇ ਛਪੇ ਅੰਧੇਰ ਪਲੋਆ ॥ (Bhai Gurdas Var 1.27)

Baba Nanak's message of the unity of all humankind and the need for all the peoples of the world to become better human beings irrespective of their religion is a world first. No other religion in the world promotes other faiths so broadly and so profusely; only Nanak welcomes peoples of all faiths to his domain. Nanak says, "In the Company of the Guru, all the people of the world are saved" . He does not single out any particular faith as inferior or superior; he says, "All people are saved through the Naam, the Name of the Lord" and also "That mortal being is supreme among all people, who is perfumed by the fragrance of the Lord's Name" . He asks for "All people [to] praise the One Lord" The remembrance of the Lord's Name is highlighted over and over again. The mortal being can only gain spiritually by doing good deeds and treading on the path of righteousness – not by performing useless rituals in blind faith. "Only the good deeds which you have done shall remain with you, O my soul" say Baba Nanak and also "Pilgrimages, fasts, purification and self-discipline are of no use, nor are rituals, religious ceremonies or empty worship"

Many millions will celebrate the birthday of the great Guru, spiritual teacher during the coming week. In every major city in the world, celebrations will take place. Officials in Pakistan Punjab estimated that more than 25,000 Sikhs are likely to visit the sacred Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Nanak from across the globe during November to celebrate the Parkash Divas (birthday) of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Guru of the Sikhs.

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Bandi Chaur Divaas, Diwaali

Sikhs celebrate Diwali by celebrations takeing place to mark the Sikh celebration of Bandi Chorh Divas.

Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhorh Divas to mark the return of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, who was freed from imprisonment and also managed to release 52 Hindu Kings (political prisoners) at the same time from the famous fort of Gwalior by Emperor Jahangir in October, 1619.

So the Kings/rajahs were freed and the Guru became known popularly as the "Bandi Chor" (Deliverer from prison). He arrived at Amritsar on the Diwali day and the HarMandar (also known as the "Golden Temple") was lit with hundreds of lamps (Devai) to celebrate his return and hence the day came to be known as the "Bandi Chhor Divas" (the day of freedom).

Sikhs also celebrate Diwali becuase this was the day that the first foundation stone of Shir Harimandar Sahib was laid. These celebrations are carried out across the World were ever there are Sikhs.

SIKH LOBBY & CANDLELIT VIGILHOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, LONDON

Tuesday 30 October 2007

A meeting organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs will take place in Committee Room 18 between 11.30am-1.30pm. Aim to arrive at the St. Stephen’s entrance of the Houses of Parliament for 11am. This will be followed by a lobby in Parliament where you can meet your local MP between 1.30-3.30pm. The day will end with a candlelit vigil opposite the Houses of Parliament from 3.30-7.30pm.

The lobby will focus on:

* separate monitoring of Sikhs for the Census 2011

* Sikh religious right to their articles of faith; and

* bringing justice for victims of genocide and torture since 1984

What you need to do:

1) Contact your local MP and inform him/her of the event and make travel arrangements to take part in the lobby and vigil

2) Invite your MP to the meeting in Committee Room 18 – it is particularly important MPs try and attend between 12 noon and 1pm when the main presentations will be made

3) Encourage your MP to join Sikhs for the candlelit vigil outside the Houses of ParliamentNote: There will also be a candlelit vigil in Chamberlain Square (outside the Central Library), Birmingham City Centre between 4-7pm on 7 November 2007.

The Sikh Lobby and Candlelit Vigil is being organised jointly by Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations throughout the UK.

Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji Poanta Sahib Wale Kirtan Darbar

In the state of Nirvaanaa, sing the Kirtan of the Creator's Praises; contemplating Him in meditation, even for an instant, one is saved.

Bhai Sahib Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji Khalsa Poanta Sahib Wale will be doing kirtan on Sunday 7th October 2007 from 6:30 p.m to 07:30 p.m at Shri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara Clarence Place, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 1LD.
Please attend and enjoy great kirtan. The Kirtan darbar is being held by Guru Nanak Komal Sangeet Acadmey in partnership with www.gururamdass.blogspot.com.

For further information contact the numbers below:

Parvinder Singh – 07817695042
Shri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara Gravesend – 01474 350611
www.gururamdass.blogspot.com

Blog Announcement

Announcement from the blog Sevadars the blog will be down from Friday 20th July 2007 to Friday 24th August 2007 due to technical difficulty and blog updates. Please note the blog will be back online from Friday 24th August 2007 even bigger and better. Please bear with us, Seva will be resumed as soon as possible. Sorry for any inconvenience.

-Updated Frequently with the latest news from Punjab scroll down for the other News. You can now subscribe to the blogs feed get the latest updates from the blog striaght to your email inbox, scroll down and subscribe. Please feel free to leave comments on the Dera issue or what you think of the Site no comments will be rejected.-

Latest Breaking News from Punjab: Thursday 19th July 2007

Religious act draws flak

Amritsar, The participation of BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu in a“rudra yagya”, organised by a religious organisation in view of the start of the “sawan” on Monday, has received flak from various Sikh organisations.
Former Jathedar of Akal Takht Bhai Ranjit Singh said here today that Sidhu had violated the Sikh maryada by wearing a sacred thread and dhoti during the yagya.

Dera followers attacked

Ludhiana, Tension gripped the city today when a group of about 50 Sikh youths attacked the house of a Dera Sacha Sauda follower at Lohara village. The group prevented the dera followers from holding ‘naam charcha’. They beat up the “premis”, including women, and ransacked the house of a premi, Mukhtiar Singh, where the followers had met.
The administration deployed police at the site to prevent escalation of tension. A case under Sections 323, 452 and 506 of the IPC for trespassing, beating and criminal intimidation has been registered.
The police refrained from imposing Section 295 against the attackers. The section would have charged them with hurting religious sentiments of the complainant.
Mukhtiar Singh and two others were injured in the attack. He said all followers of the dera host congregations once a year. Today was his turn.
SSP R. K. Jaiswal said two assailants had been identified. "Raids were on to arrest them”, he said. He asserted that all citizens , irrespective of their religion, were safe and the police was protecting them.

Latest Breaking News from Punjab : Wednesday 18th July 2007

‘Keep off religious matters’

Fatehgarh Sahib, State president of the Bharatiya Janata Party Rajinder Bhandari today said the party had kept silent on the dera issue as it considered that the political parties should not interfere in religious matters. Speaking to mediapersons at a local college at Alour, near here, Bhandari said the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) was playing a positive role in resolving the dera row. He, however, condemned the attack on the convoy of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh at Sirsa yesterday.
Bhandari said there were no differences between the BJP and the SAD and the two parties would share seats in the upcoming municipal elections just like they did in 1997 and 2000.

High Court Notice to Punjab over Dera chief’s plea

Chandigarh, Justice L.N. Mittal today issued notice of motion to Punjab over a petition by Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him by the Bathinda police.The petitioner, through his counsel S.K.Garg Narwana, submitted that the FIR was nothing but an abuse of process of law. It was averred that the petitioner had never imitated Guru Gobind Singh and never wore blue attire as alleged in the FIR.
The petitioner submitted that the FIR was based on “false, frivolous and absurd charges”. It was asserted in the petitoin that the FIR was based on newspaper photograph and even that photograph did not give impression that Guru Gobind Singh’s “pictorial presentation”. It was also alleged that the FIR was lodged after “consultations, deliberations and confabulations”. The next hearing is on September 28.

Latest Breaking News from Punjab: Tuesday 17th July 2007

AT ANY COST WE WILL STOP THE PROGRAM OF AUSOTOSH : GIANI TARLOCAN SINGH, JATHEDAR SHRI KESGARH ANANDPUR SAHIB

25 injured in clash Dera chief’s convoy attacked

Sirsa,At least 25 persons, including one RAF jawan, were injured, four of them seriously, in a clash between Sikhs and dera followers here today.
Security personnel control the unruly mob after a clash between Sikhs and followers of Dera Sacha Sauda at Ghukna Wali village in Sirsa district on Monday.
Trouble started when the Dera Sacha Sauda Chief was leaving after addressing a religious discourse at a dera in Ghukna Wali village, about 35 km from here. The paramilitary forces resorted to lathi charge and burst tear gas shells to disperse members of the two groups, who were pelting stone on each other. Members of both the groups were admitted to different hospitals and one of the seriously injured persons was referred to Hisar. As many as 18 persons were admitted to the local civil hospital.
The police has registered a case against the dera followers and Sikhs involved in the clash under Sections 148, 149, 332, 353, 295-A and 506 of the IPC on the statement of tesildar Amarjit Singh, who was present on the spot.
As many as 15 vehicles of dera chief’s convoy were also damaged in the clash. However, security personnel took the dera chief to dera headquarters through other link roads.
Later, Sikh protesters also blocked the national highway near Chor Mar. Tension mounted here after the dera chief, who was coming from Rajasthan along with his convoy, reached here to deliver a discourse. As the Sikhs came knew about it, they converged at a nearby gurdwara and marched towards the dera carrying black flags and swords showing their protest against "Naam Charcha" and gathered outside the dera.
The situation took an ugly turn when these protesters threw stones on the convoy of the dera chief, in retaliation the dera followers also hurled stones at them. Initially there were not enough police personnel to control them, later RAF and HAF personnel reached the spot and resorted to heavy lathi charge and also used tear gas to disperse members of both the groups.
Some of the houses of Sikhs near the dera were also allegedly attacked by the violent mob of dera followers.
The clash took place despite the fact that Ghukna Wali has been declared a sensitive area in view of the ongoing tussle between Sikhs and dera followers. The peace committee was also assured by the dera that no religious discourse would be held in sensitive areas. Intelligence agencies too had warned of such an incident.
The Deputy Commissioner V.Umashankar said the situation was under control now. Security has been tightened in the district and the areas near Rajasthan border.
After the incident both the groups accused each other, while Daljit Singh Dadu, head of gurdwara Sri Guru Granth Sahib alleged that the incident took place due to failure of the state government to prevent the dera chief from holding a religious discourse in the sensitive areas. He alleged that it was the dera followers who had attacked the peacefully protesting Sikhs first.
The dera spokesman Pawan Insan, however, said after the religious discourse Sikhs had attacked the dera chief’s convoy first.

RADICALS, SGPC-TAKHT SPLIT WIDE OPEN ON DERA ISSUE

Amritsar:The difference of opinion between Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Akal Takht on one hand and radical Sikh organisations under the banner of Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) on the other, is growing on the Dera Sacha Sauda issue.
The SGPC members and jathedars of various Takhts did not participate in yesterday’s march at Faridkot against the rising dera culture, leaving the radicals fuming. KAC convenor Bhai Mohkam Singh said they had given an open invitation to all Sikhs to participate in their “peaceful struggle” against the Dera. “SGPC members and Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti promised to participate, but changed their minds at the last minute, which is unfortunate,” he said. He said their weekly peace marches would be held as per schedule, with or without the SGPC and Jathedars.
“We are also trying to bring various Akali factions, Sant Samaj and student federations under one fold to intensify our struggle against the dera. Now the SGPC and Akal Takht are looking for excuses,” he said, adding that it was the SGPC’s fault that the deras were flourishing, as the Sikh body had failed in evangelism. He said they would again request the SGPC members and Jathedar Vedanti to participate in their next march on July 20 at Moga.
Co-convenor of KAC Kunwarpal Singh said they were surprised at the move of the SGPC and Akal Takht Jathedar, who had promised to take part in the march. “The SGPC and the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs are directly under control of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. They are working on directives from the Badal government,” he alleged, adding that several Akali factions, including SAD (1920) of Ravi Inder Singh and SAD (A) of Simranjit Singh Mann were with them.
Taking a dig at Jathedar Vedanti’s decision to rollback the Sikh conference at Ratia in Haryana, Kunwarpal said hundreds of Sikhs reached the spot despite the gathering having been called off by the Takht. SAD (A) general secretary Bhai Ram Singh said they would meet the Jathedar again to appeal that he should participate in their programmes. “After the marches, we will organise a congregation of Sikhs on the issue at some suitable place,” said Mohkam Singh.
SGPC president Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar, meanwhile, said nobody, including KAC, should bypass the Akal Takht. “They should abide by the programmes being planned under the aegis of the Takht alone and any deviations are neither welcome nor should be encouraged,” he stated. He said some persons had been misled and had joined various deras, which, he said, was unfortunate.

DSGMC gets jolt Panel chief joins SGPC

Amritsar, The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) received a major jolt today when its Dharam Prachar Committee (DPC) chairman Tarsem Singh joined the Prachar Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
Talking to newspersons, Tarsem said he had resigned from the chairmanship of the committee because of the dictatorial attitude of the Sarna brothers. He said a number of decisions taken by the Delhi committee led to differences among its members. The representatives of weaker sections were treated like slaves.
“The Sarna brothers were playing into the hands of those who were misusing the Delhi committee’s funds for promoting their personal interests”, he claimed.
He said though there was no interference by the Sarna brothers in the working of the DPC, it was not working for the promotion of the Sikh culture and religion. The DSGMC was coming close to the Congress.
Refuting the allegations of Tarsem, DSGMC president Harvinder Singh Sarna, told The Tribune that he (Tarsem) was not chairman of the DPC and had resigned from the chairmanship of a school committee. He alleged that Tarsem had resigned from the committee at the instance of SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal, who was enticing members to take control of the management of the DSGMC.

Sarna given clean chit

Fatehgarh Sahib, In a significant development, Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti gave a clean chit to DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna in the Dera Sacha Sauda controversy. While defending Sarna, Vedanti said that he could not be summoned to the Akal Takht for having met Dera Sacha Sauda chief on the basis of media reports.
The demand to summon Sarna to the Akal Takht had been raised by various Sikh organisations, which had objected to his having met the dera chief.
Vedanti, who was here to attend a ‘Gurmat Chetna Camp’ organised by the SGPC, stated that he would not take cognisance of media reports that Sarna had met the dera chief. He said that only if Sarna admitted before the takht that he had met the dera chief, an explanation could be sought from him.
He said that the Khalsa Action Committee was coming up with its own programmes without taking the takht into confidence. Contradicting the statement issued by SGPC chief Avtar Singh that birs could only be given to those who had faith in Guru Granth Sahib and not to those who believed in a dera chief, the Akal Takht Jathedar said that the takht had not debarred anyone from carrying the birs, provided that the Sikh maryada was not violated.

SGPC receives flak

Barnala, Former MP and advocate Raj Dev Singh Khalsa criticised the SGPC in failing to make any city in the state tobacco-free, despite the fact that three major takhts - Anandpur Sahib, Amritsar and Damdama Sahib - of the Sikhs are situated in the state.
Talking to press reporters here today, he said the SGPC had crores of rupees in its budget to tackle this issue, but had failed to create awareness among Sikh youths to abandon the use of tobacco which is the foremost principle of Sikhism.

Khalsa March From Roday Gets Great Response in spite of Bad Weather

Khalsa Action Committee organized a Khalsa March from Village Rode - District Moga (Native Village of Great Sikh Shaheed of 20 th Century, Sant Giani Jarnail Singh Ji Khasla Bhindranwale) to Faridkot. Thousands of Sikhs gathered at Gurudwara GurKirtan Parkash and Ardas was performed by Giani Harnam Singh Khasla Bhindranwale at the bigening of March. March was delayed due to heavy rain fall in the morning but weather failed to dampen the spirit of thousands of Sikhs who gathered at Rode to participate in the march. Gatherings were held throughout the march at various villages where KAC members addressed the Sikh Sangat. Members of Khalsa Action Committee, Representatives of Akali Dal (Amritsar), Sikh Students Federation, Damdami Taksal, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Akali Dal (1920), Seva Socities and Sant Samaj participated in large number besides Sikh Sangat.

Sikh priests has no differences over dera issue, says Vedanti

FATEHGARH SAHIB: Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti Monday said that there were no differences among Jathedars of various Takhts over Dera Sacha Sauda issue.
Talking to media persons at Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib after presiding over ‘Special Gurmat Chetna Camp’, Vedanti said that Jathedars of all Takhts are taking decisions after thoroughly consulting each other. He said that reportss of Takht Sir Damdama Sahib Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh is not satisfied with the Akal Takht over the Dera row and had submitted his resignation to him were mere rumours.
On the demand of summoning Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Paramjit Singh Sarna on Akal Takht , which is being raised by various Sikh organisations for holding meeting with Dera chief despite an edict issued by Akal Takht asking all Sikhs to boycott the Dera , Vedanti said that Sarna himself had never admitted before the Takht that he held meeting with the Dera chief after the boycott. He said that was only media reports that Sarna held parleys with the Dera chief.
He also refused to recognize Khalsa Action Committee (KAC). The SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar had already refused to recognize it. He said that Akal Takht is issuing directions from time to time in the Dera row so all the people and organisations should always follow it.

Mann's judicial remand extended till July 30

JALANDHAR: A local court on Monday extended judicial remand of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president, Simranjit Singh Mann, for 14 days in a sedition case registered against him by Punjab government.
Mann was presented before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Varinder Agarwal, who after listening to both defence and prosecution, extended the judicial remand of Mann till July 30.
Mann and other supporters were booked in sedition case for desecrating the statue of slain Chief Minister Beant Singh on May 13 by hanging placards having photos of his assassin Dilawar Singh and for also raising pro-Khalistan slogans

8 Thousand people take amrit through the SGPC'S Dharam Parchar Lahair

Latest Breaking News from Punjab:Monday 16th July 2007

Security lapse at dera chief’s satsang



Abohar, Exposing poor security arrangements today some persons managed to reach Budhranwali village with swords in a tractor-trailer but the organisers of “Guru Manyo Granth” samagam prevented them from heading towards Dera Maujpur Dham at the same village in neighbouring Sadulshehar subdivision.
The police had virtually fortified the dera by deploying 10 companies of the RAC, STF and Home Guards and positioned anti-riot squads and fire-fighting vehicles. SP Sriganganagar and scores of DSPs were camping in Budhranwali to ensure incident-free satsang by Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
The Sikh advisory committee also held a parallel function at a small gurdwara, 200 m away from Dera Maujpur Dham



Cracks appear in SAD (A)


Amritsar, Cracks have appeared in the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) over the issue of the Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) even as Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party today met at Fatehgarh Sahib to resolve differences.
Secretary-general of the party Bhai Ram Singh, who had announced that the SAD(A) had dissociated from the KAC , however, hoped that matter would be resolved in the PAC meeting .
Most of the senior Akali leaders close to Mann stayed away from the march today. On the other hand , Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti , jathedar, Akal Takht, who was specially invited to participate in the Khalsa march by the organisers, also stayed away. SGPC members of the ruling Akali Dal were also absent from the march. However, Kanwarpal Singh, a spokesman of the Dal Khalsa, said Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa , chief, Damdami Taksal participated in the march.
On the other hand the Sikh Nation Organisation , headed by Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa, has alleged that Jathedar Vedanti had lost all moral right to continue.



Sikh bodies hold march


Rhode (Baghapurana), A number of Sikh organisations, including radical groups, under the banner of the Khalsa Action Committee took out a march, the first of the six marches announced by the committee, from the native village of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, 32 km from Moga, today. Before the march, led by Panj Piaras, began, ardas was offered at Gurdwara Kirtan Prakash. A large number of Nihangs participated in it.
The administration made heavy police arrangements with traffic and women police at hand. Even BSF personnel were also deployed at certain places.
Apart from convener of the committee Bhai Mohkam Singh, former Jathedar of the Akal Takht Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, head of Damdami Taksal Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma, Ravi Inder Singh, Kanwarpal Singh and SGPC members from opposition were present.



Sikh leaders condemn raid on gurdwara


Fatehgarh Sahib, Sikh leaders today condemned the raiding of a gurdwara in Talwara village by the district police on July 2. In a meeting held on the premises of the gurdwara, the leaders demanded strict action against the SHO who raided the shrine.
Sikh leaders, including president of Damdami Taksal (Sarawan) Baba Ram Singh, SAD (A) vice-president Dhian Singh Mand, SAD (A) general secretaries Bhai Ram Singh, Mahinder Pal Singh and Surinder Singh said the police had outraged the `Sikh maryada', adding that the police’s action reminded them of Operation Blue Star.
The police had allegedly seized religious books from the library of the gurdwara. However, the police denied the allegations, stating that the SHO had gone to the gurdwara to pay obeisance and on his way back was handed over two religious books by the gurdwara granthi.
The Sikh leaders said the police was trying to give a twist to the whole incident.



Khalsa March From Roday Gets Great Response in spite of Bad Wether


Rode to Fridkot :Khalsa Action Committee organized a Khalsa March from Village Rode - District Moga (Native Village of Great Sikh Shaheed of 20 th Century, Sant Giani Jarnail Singh Ji Khasla Bhindranwale) to Faridkot. Thousands of Sikhs gathered at Gurudwara GurKirtan Parkash and Ardas was performed by Giani Harnam Singh Khasla Bhindranwale at the bigening of March. March was delayed due to heavy rain fall in the morning but weather failed to dampen the spirit of thousands of Sikhs who gathered at Rode to participate in the march. Gatherings were held throughout the march at various villages where KAC members addressed the Sikh Sangat. Members of Khalsa Action Committee, Representatives of Akali Dal (Amritsar),Nihungs, Sikh Students Federation, Damdami Taksal, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Akali Dal (1920), Seva Socities and Sant Samaj participated in large number besides Sikh Sangat. Bhai Daljit Singh also participated in this march. He was expected not to participate in march as it was considered that he may be arrested by the police. Bhai Daljit Singh addressed the Press at the bigening of the march. He made speech before gathering of Sikh Sangat at various villages durring the march. When activities of Police and intelligence was on its' peek to trap Bhai Daljit Singh he suddenly disappeared from the march. After that police searched from outside almost all vehicals many times to find Bhai Daljit Singh. Sikh Youth participated in march in large number. They raised slogans like "Raj Karega Khasla" - Panth Ki Jeet - Bhindranwale Sant Sipahee Jis Ne Suti Quam Jagai - Sarkaare Tere Kam Nikame Phir Kahengi Kharku Jamme.



Participation by Bhai Daljit Singh



Bhai Daljit Singh also participated in this march. He was expected not to participate in march as it was considered that he may be arrested by the police. Bhai Daljit Singh addressed the Press at the bigening of the march. He made speech before gathering of Sikh Sangat at various villages durring the march. When activities of Police and intelligence was on its' peek to trap Bhai Daljit Singh he suddenly disappeared from the march. After that police searched from outside almost all vehicals many times to find Bhai Daljit Singh.


Youth participated in large number



Sikh Youth participated in march in large number. They raised slogans like "Raj Karega Khasla" - Panth Ki Jeet - Bhindranwale Sant Sipahee Jis Ne Suti Quam Jagai - Sarkaare Tere Kam Nikame Phir Kahengi Kharku Jamme.



Dera chief's car attacked



Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim's motorcade near Ghunkawali village in Haryana on Monday afternoon.The Dera chief was returning to Sirsa after attending a satsang in a nearby village.In retaliation to the attack, Dera supporters threw stones at Sikh protesters in the area. According to reports, the police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.Paramilitary forces have been deployed in the area to prevent further clashes in the area, where the situation is now under control.



Sikh community, Dera followers hold religious prayers


Jaipur, : Followers of the controversial Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda and the Sikh community today held separate religious prayers amidst prohibitory orders and tight security at a village in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district.
Both sects engaged in their religious work peacefully since morning, District Collector B S Detha said.
Prohibitory orders were imposed and armed security personnel deployed in Budharwali village yesterday after the two communities decided to hold religious meetings.
Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh organised a 'satsang' at its Naam Charcha Ghar, located close to a gurdwara where a 'bhakt samagam' and prayers were held by Sikhs, he said.
Thousands of Dera followers and Sikhs attended the two functions, he said.
Superintendent of Police Vineeta Thakur said preventive arrests were made in some parts of the district and Bikaner's Inspector-General of Police and divisional commissioner had gone to the area to monitor the situation.
Rajasthan Armed Police and Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed in the village, Thakur said.
The Dera also deployed its own private security guards at Naam Charcha Ghar and set up metal detectors, sources said.
Security was also stepped up at Rajasthan's borders with Punjab and Haryana and the movement of public vehicles stopped till tomorrow evening, Detha said.
The Dera chief, who arrived in Rajasthan yesterday, had agreed to address his followers in a peaceful manner, he said.
People have been advised not to carry weapons, not to hold any religious meetings except these two, not to make any inflammatory speeches and to avoid the use of loudspeakers at public places, he said.


Akal Takht Jathedar offers one more opportunity to dera chief to apologise

AMRITSAR: Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti on Saturday extended one more opportunity to dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh to tender an apology wholeheartedly to restore peace in Punjab.
Vedanti's statement came in response to request of a delegation of nearly 15 people from Sirsa town of Haryana who met him and asked to find out peaceful solution of present crises. The delegation presented to Vedanti a letter signed by 10 lakh people. The delegation journalists, industrialists, Advocates and heads of various organizations
Vedanti to the visiting delegation that if the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda sect come forward carrying pious intention with apology, the burning situation of Punjab and Haryana could be normalized.'Let him tender an unconditioal apology to Sikh community", Vedanti said.
Adding further Vedanti said that mere apology would not heal the wounded hearts of Sikh community and that is why Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh has to give assurance to Sikh community that in future he would never repeat the blasphemous act which has hurt the Sikh sentiments by and large.
Talking about the earlier two apologies sent by the Dera Sacha Sauda, Vedant described them mere press notes since the language used in the text was not proper and reflected high
Launching scathing attack on the practice of Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh the way he was running his dera, Vedanti said that his practice is deadly against the tenets of Sikhism. His all the actions describes that he has no respect for the Sikh religion and even for Islam and Christianity, Vedanti quipped.
Vedanti added that dera head had no respect for tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh Singh, the way Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh has distributed "amrit" (nectar) while attired in a dress similar to that of Sikh Guru.


SGPC Chief asks Rajasthan govt to deal strictly with dera head

FATEHGARH SAHIB: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar said on Saturday that Rajasthan government should deal strictly with dera Sacha Sauda chief who is holding 'naam charcha' in Sri Ganganagar on July 15. He also advised dera Chief to apologise with all sincerety to end the Dera row.
Talking to newsmen at Fathegarh Sahib Makkar said that it was duty of the Rajasthan government to maintain law and order situation. He said that the Dera chief is making all attempts to create tension and disturb peace so he is holding 'Naam Charcha' in Sri Ganaganager area.
He said that SGPC had intensified its drive of propagation of Sikhism and a large number of people is being baptized daily during the 'Amrit Sanchar Lehar' of SGPC . When asked when will SAD Acting President Sukhbir Badal baptized, he evaded reply.
On some incidents of not providing birs of Guru Granth Sahib to dera premis, Makkar said that these religious birs could be given only to those persons, which has faith in Guru Granth Sahib, not to those persons, who had faith in people like Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh.
On withdrawal of call of Ratia conclave in Haryana, Makkar while justifying the reason of Akal Takht said that it was cancelled to avoid confrontation.
He announced that Bhai Gurdas Literary Committees should be set up in every college of SGPC, which would work for propagation of Sikhism and raise voice against various social evils like female foeticide. He said that Sikh youths, who will work in significant way , will be honoured by Baba Fateh Singh award. Mata Gujri College principal Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia, MGC Managing Committee Additional Secretary Ranjit Singh Libra, former minister Randhir Singh Cheema also expressed his views.


Dhian Singh Mand to head SAD (Amritsar)

FATEHGARH SAHIB: Former Member Parliament and Sikh militant leader Dhian Singh Mand will now lead Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) in place of Simranjit Singh Mann who is in jail in a sedition case.
The party had earlier asked senior vice president Daljit Singh Bittu to head the party but he has also been booked in sedition case and court has cancelled his pre-arrest bail.
The party office secretary Ranjit Singh Cheema on behalf of Simranjit Singh Mann released a statement in which he said that in the light of the party's senior vice president Daljit Singh's cancellation of bail, the party has decided that the next senior most party leader Dhian Singh Mand, vice president of the party will be the leader of the party. He said that all major decisions of the party will however be taken by Political Affairs Committee.


DERA CHIEF ESCAPES UNHURT, 8 INJURED RED ALERT IN PUNJAB

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh escaped unhurt when his convoy was attacked this afternoon during a clash between his followers and the Sikh community in a village, 30 km from here, leaving eight persons injured and sparking tension in the town where para military forces were called in.
The incident occurred when the Dera chief, who was returning from Rajasthan`s Sriganganagar district after a religious discourse, halted at Gukanwale village on the insistence of his followers, who wanted an audience with him. After the attack, the Dera head was brought to his headquarters using a different route, police said.
While police resorted to mild lathicharge and used tear gas to disperse the warring groups, paramilitary personnel were deployed in the town to prevent further escalation of violence. While Dabwali`s (the town near the place of incident) Deputy Superintendent of Police Wazir Singh said that eight persons were injured in the attack, the Dera sources claimed at least 12 people, including some sect followers and the security personnel accompanying the Dera head, were wounded and have been admitted to civil hospital at Sirsa.
Window panes of many other vehicles were also smashed in the incident, police said. The Sikh community members of neighbouring Chormar village also held protest following the clashes. Meanwhile, Sirsa deputy commissioner V Umashankar said that the authorities had advised the Dera head not to halt anywhere along the way, but he stopped in the village and this aggravated the situation.

Latest Breaking News from Punjab:Sunday 15th July 2007

Security up as dera chief holds meeting

The Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh addressed a gathering inside Dera Maujpur Dham at Budhranwali village in neighbouring Sadulshehar subdivision of Sriganganagar district today and last evening. He had arrived yesterday in a cavalcade of more than 100 vehicles. Senior civil and police officials escorted it as it entered from the Haryana border.
Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar SPs had a meeting with the dera chief to pursue him for cancelling the satsang on Sunday but he refused. Most of the members of the supreme committee of the dera were accompanying him.

Boycott of ‘premis’ unacceptable: Cong

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Shamsher Singh Dullo has announced that the "gurmata" (the holy resolution) of Sikh clergy, calling for a boycott of followers of Dera Sacha Sauda was "unacceptable" to the Congress, saying that they (Congress leaders) would continue to meet "premis" (followers of Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh).
Talking to mediapersons here today, Dullo alleged that the Sikh high priests had been working at the behest of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and hence the edicts or directives being pronounced by jathedars had lost sanctity.
Dullo refused to come forward for mediation between Dera Sacha Sauda and Sikhs. He, however, said his party would cooperate with the ruling SAD/BJP in resolving the impasse.

‘Cong to blame’

SGPC chief Avtar Singh said Dullo, being a ‘patit’ Sikh, had no right to comment on the Sikh institutions. He alleged that the Congress was responsible for the ongoing dera row.

Sirsa team meets Vedanti

Efforts to resolve the Dera Sacha Sauda-Sikh row received a major boost when a 25-member delegation “Shanti Samiti, Sirsa” today met Jathedar Akal Takht urging him to resolve the issue as early as possible in a peaceful manner.
The delegation included doctors, journalists, advocates, businessmen and leaders of various social and political organisations from Sirsa.
Talking to newspersons, leader of the delegation Jagdish Raj Chopra said they had come here not only with the signatures but also with the emotions and sentiments of one lakh people of his district to appeal Jathedar of Akal Takht Joginder Singh Vedanti to find a peaceful solution to the dera row. He said the people of Sirsa also condemned the alleged blasphemous act of the dera chief Sant Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and wanted that normalcy should return to the two states.
Chopra said they had also met the dera chief two days ago and had received a positive response from him in resolving the dera row. He claimed that the dera chief was also ready to take steps to resolve the issue, including sending a fresh apology.
The dera followers ended their 25-day chain fast on the instructions of the dera chief.

Dera chief trying to corrupt atmosphere

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Avtar Singh Makkar said the Dera Sacha Sauda chief was trying to vitiate the atmosphere by hold a 'Naam Charha' in Sri Ganganager, Rajasthan, tomorrow.
Speaking to mediapersons on the premises of Mata Gujri College, Makkar said the Rajasthan government should thwart the move of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh so that law and order was maintained.
Makkar said nothing could be done to resolve the dera row till the chief apologised in real sense. Playing down the claims made by former Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh that the SGPC and the KAC did nothing to resolve the row, Makkar stated that Bhai Ranjit Singh had himself done nothing in this direction and had no moral right to issue such statements.
Reacting to a question, Makkar said religious birs could only be given to those who have faith in the Guru Granth Sahib and not to those who have faith in dera leaders.
Defending the move of the Akal Takht to call off the Ratia conclave in Haryana, Makkar said the decision had been taken to avoid any confrontation.

Latest Breaking News from Punjab: Saturday 14th July 2007

CBI closes in on Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim
Sadhvis say they were raped

http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/44786/cbi-ready-to-nail-dera-chief-for-murder-rape.html - The truth of this murderer, rapist Gurmit Raam Rahim the CBI has carried out investigations.

Sirsa: The CBI has indicated that it has enough evidence to convict Sacha Sauda dera head Gurmeet Ram Ram. One Sadhvi has said that she was raped for three years by the Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
The CBI has also procured many records of medical treatment and hospitalisation of sadhvis at the Dera hospital.
As the doomsday nears for the Dera Sacha Sauda's murder and molestation of girls-accused head Gurmeet Ram Rahim, desperate efforts have been unleashed by the Sirsa camp to ward off the imminent danger.
Even as top sources in the CBI confirmed that the federal sleuthing agency investigating the murder case is all set to submit the report on July 31 to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, new revelations have hit media headlines. It seems three sadhvis of the dera have now gone on record before the CBI alleging rape against the dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
On Thursday, the dera tried an another ace, writing a letter in the name of the people of India and claiming innocence in terms which only damn the dera head.
In its letter to the nation, written after the directive of the Akal Takht to the Sikhs to maintain integrity of the country, the Dera said that tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, had pardoned Mughal emperor Aurangzeb for cruelty shown towards the Sahibzadas and other family kin of the Guru, and the Guru did so to preserve peace and brotherhood to prevail in the society.
"Is it not disrespect of the Gurbani and the Gurus that three apologies submitted by the Dera have been disregarded?" the letter added.
It also claimed that the Dera chief can't even think of imitating the tenth Guru.
What the dera's spin masters probably could not interpret was that all said and done, they were comparing their chief to infamous Aurangzeb, not a comparison that would make the dera happy.

IHRO Condemns Blockade on Khalsa March

Ludhiana, Punjab - The International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO) today censured severely the Punjab government and UT administration for barricading and preventing the Khalsa March at Mohali which was going to hold a peaceful sit-in before the residences of Punjab and Haryana chief ministers to highlight the Sikh grievances against the Dera "Sacha Sauda."
The IHRO chairperson D S Gill, general secretary M S Grewal, legal coordinator Sukhdev Singh Ramgarh Sibian and public relations secretary Inderjit Kaur also blamed both the Punjab and Haryana administrations for their inaction in bringing to book the cult head Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh.
While holding Parkash Singh Badal, the Punjab chief minister and president of the SAD, responsible for putting pressure on Akal Takht, through his henchman, Avtar Singh Makkar, the SGPC chief to alter its edicts and decisions in tune with their nefarious political designs, for which they said, the people of Punjab would not forgive his regime which has indulged itself in the political gimmicks, as no Sikh worth his salt, will continue to tolerate the illegal activities of the Dera head.
Not only that, they said, the Opposition leader in the Punjab State Assembly openly supports the cause of the criminal cult leader just for petty electoral gains, adding that the dera head should be arrested along with such collaborators under 120-B of the IPC in all these incidents of crime as they are deliberately and maliciously instigating the offenders.
The IHRO activists further added: "The response of the Haryana Congress to the Sikh nation is not encouraging either, and it may go the Bhajan Lal way as it has been during the Asian games in 1982. So, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda needs to be more vigilant to understand the gravity of the matter and the wrath of the Sikh people against the culprits."
We also call upon all the Sikh groups, irrespective of their political affiliations and leadership crisis, to sink their differences and come together with the Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) under the patronage of Akal Takht so long as it carries the spirit of the Khalsa Panth in order to bring to book the culprits and establish peace in the state.

Khalsa Action Committee Protest March Halted

Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar – The Khalsa Protest March organized by the Khalsa Action Committee was halted by the Punjab Police even before it commenced from Gurdwara Amb Sahib. The march was held with several motives, amongst those: the arrest of Gurmeet Ram Rahim, release of S. Simranjit S. Mann, bail of various Singhs arrested in connection with attacking ‘Jhoota Sauda’ deras in Punjab, retracting of charges against Daljit S. Bittu and other Singhs, were the priorities.
The protest was going to be held in collaboration with various political and panthic jathebandis, including Shiromani Akal Dal (A), Shiromani Akali Dal 1920, Majha Akali Dal, Dal Khalsa, Damdami Taksal, Akhand Kirtani Jatha and others. According to the initial plans, the Khalsa Action Committee had decided to hold peaceful protests outside the houses of the Punjab and Haryana Chief Ministers.
All necessary planning was carried out by an eleven member committee instituted by the Khalsa Action Committee. This committee included members of various Sikh organizations. These members had already performed ardas and taken hukamnama to initiate the march, but upon leaving the Gurdwara Sahib, it was discovered that the large police force that was deployed around Gurdwara Amb Sahib had sealed the road from both sides which stopped the march from going any further.
According to Mr. R.S. Charta, SSP Mohali, the Khalsa Action Committee had not sought special orders to carry out the march and thus carrying out the march without court orders would be considered illegal. The police intervention was however declared superfluous by members of the Khalsa Action Committee. Bhai Mohkam Singh, main spokesperson of the Khalsa Action Committee held that permission was sought in advance from the Chandigarh Police and the Punjab Police intervention was wrongful and unnecessary.
Bhai Mohkam Singh further blamed Parkash Badal’s Government for failing to upkeep law and order in Punjab. He said that if Parkash Badal’s Government had shown any interest in honoring the sentiments of the Sikh community, Gurmeet Ram Rahim would have been arrested by now. He said that despite the fact that Gurmeet Ram Rahim has various types of criminal charges pending against him in court, the Punjab Government is still trying to save him.
Several other Sikh leaders also expressed grief over the cancellation of the march. On the other hand, Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh showed complete surprise after seeing a letter printed on Akal Takhat Sahib’s letterhead asking the Sikh Sangat to withdraw the protest march. Other Sikh leadership however lashed out at Parkash Badal for once again forcing the Akal Takhat Sahib Jathedar to take actions under his political influence.
It was announced by the Khalsa Action Committee that all future programs would be held according to the schedule, along with the mega-convention. These programs will be carried out regardless of the wishes of the State Government and they will be held to achieve the same motives.
It was also learnt that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had played a big role in the cancellation of the protest march. According to Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, SAD General Secretary and Tarlochan Singh, member of Haryana Rajya Sabha who expressed relief after the march was cancelled, Badal and Hooda followed the directions of Manmohan Singh when banning the march.

Unrest continues between Sirsa Cult and Sikh Sangat

Firozpur, Punjab – Months after Gurmeet Ram Rahim carried out his blasphemous act of mimicking Guru Gobind Singh Ji, tensions are still high in several parts of Punjab and neighboring states. This past week, just as the Khalsa Protest March had trouble in the hands of the Punjab Police, in another incident that took place here at Firozpur, the Punjab Police once against acted ruthlessly when a group of peaceful Sikh protestors started a protest outside the Dera of the Sacha Sauda cult.
Meanwhile tempers were simmering after the funeral of premi Jaswinder Sinh, the cult follower who had earlier committed suicide. Dera followers announced that they would be holding the controversial 'Naam-charcha' program on July 13th despite the fact that they were banned from holding such programs by Akal Takht Sahib and the Sikh Sangat. In reaction, local Panthic activists have pledged to stop any such function in their neighborhood.
Tensions rose in Firozpur when a group of Sikh protestors staged a fresh protest against a ‘naam charcha’ program that was organized by local Dera Sacha Sauda followers. The Sikh protestors held that the dera followers should not be allowed to hold these naam charchas because principles of the Sikh religion are many times insulted during the discourses. The Sikh delegation also asked that the ‘Ik Onkar’ symbol be removed from outside of the gate as the dera principals are not in alignment with the Sikh religion.
Tensions arose when the police refused to act upon the demands of the Sikhs. The Sikh protestors then took it upon themselves to remove the ‘Ik Onkar’ insignia from the gate of the dera. Although the ‘Ik Onkar’ is a religious symbol of the Sikhs, the police acted furiously and started to baton charge the Sikh protestors. Tear gas was also used to ‘control’ the protestors. Sikh Sangat vehicles were also infringed upon by the police in the process.
When the Sikhs realized that the police were going out of control, the Sikh Sangat started throwing rocks at the police. This helped discharge the police, but as a consequence of the clash, several Sikhs, over ten policemen and two press reporters had to be admitted to the local civil hospital.
After the situation was under control, a group of Sikh protestors told the press that the dera followers had challenged the local Sikhs to try stopping their naam charcha. It was because of these challenges that the local Sikh Youth felt the need to stop the naam charcha. Sikh protestors gathered outside the dera congregation in the early morning. At that time, only a few CRP men were present there who later asked the Punjab Police for help. When the Punjab Policemen reached the spot, they acted harshly and baton charged the protestors. The police troop was being headed by Dinesh Partap Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police.

Indian State's interference in Sikh Religious matters is unwarranted

Bhai Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu (Senior Vice President, Akali Dal Amritsar) held a press conference in Chandigarh. He claimed that Indian State is interfering in religious matters of Sikhs and this is unauthorized interference. He accused that State is ignoring sentiments of Sikh Nation and trying to forcibly suppressing Sikh movement in dera issue. For instance, he said, State stopped many persons and leaders from participating 9 July dharna in Mohali held by KAC. He informed SAD (A) youth leader S. Mandhir SIngh and his Jatha were stopped by Ropar Police. Similarly, Dal Khalsa Jatha was also stoped at Ropar. There are other incidents of like nature also. He said State is on its' way of closing all peaceful means of protest and this is extremely dangerous. He said if situation goes out of control the whole responsibility shall be on Central and State Government and its' agencies. Commenting on postponing Ratia convention he said firstly established Sikh Leadership takes decision without consulting Sikh Sangat and then postpone it under State Pressure. This trend is reducing the credibility of this leadership. As on 08 July S. Ram Singh of SAD (A) has announced in a press conference that SAD (A) has separated itself from Khalsa Action Committee, Bhai Bittu said that it may be thinking an individual and it is not decision of the party. He said we joined KAC after deciding for it in a Political Affairs Committee, and only PAC has the right to decide in this regard. On charges of Sedition against him and S. Simranjeet SIngh Maan and others, Bhai Daljit SIngh said that State is misusing law and legal process to trap Sikh leaders. He said role of Judiciary in this matter is also discouraging. It is worth notable that stay on arrest of Bhai Daljit Singh in a sedition case at Fatehgarh Sahib is vacated by the court of Addn. Sessions Judge on 4 July, the day when court rejected bail application. Meanwhile on 09 July the High Court has asked the Punjab Government to file reply by 02 August on bail application filed by Bhai Daljit SIngh in High Court through his council, Advo. Navkiran Singh, But the court has not stayed arrest of Bhai Bittu and police is in his search.

SGPC and KAC failed to resolve Dera Sacha Sauda issue : Bhai Ranjit Singh Ji

Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab - Former Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh said that SGPC and the Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) had failed to resolve the Dera Sacha Sauda row.
Talking to media persons at SGPC run Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Bhai Ranjit Singh accompanied by senior SAD(Amritsar) leader Emaan Singh Mann alleged that KAC lacked the will and the SGPC was `just a puppet’ in the hands of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal so the Dera row could not be resolved.
He said that both had failed to carry out the directives issued by the Akal Takht. He said that both the organizations were misleading the Sikh masses. He said no concrete measures had been taken till date that could force the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda to come and apologies at the Akal Takht.
Replying to a question, Bhai Ranjit Singh said that he and his supporter would join hands only with a committed Sikh organization, which really intended to resolve this issue and had the will to carry out the directives issued by the Akal Takht.
He said that the Dera chief had tried to run down the authorities of Akal Takht by sending apology letters that had been written by his followers and not by him. He said that instead the Dera chief should personally appear before the Akal Takht to tender an unconditional apology.
Bhai Ranjit Singh later visited the Talwara village near Sirhind, from where some religious books were alleged taken into custody by Fatehgarh Sahib Police from the Gurdwara library. He said that police could not have raided the Gurdwara without any prior knowledge of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Badal.

Akal Takht Jathedar statement is confusing : SSF

Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab - Commenting on statement of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, in which he asked Sikhs to keep Unity and integrity of India , Sikh Students Federation (SSF) President Parmjeet Singh Gazi said that this statement was unnecessary and confusing.
Talking to media persons, Gazi said during struggle against blasphemous act of Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS), so far Sikhs have not done anything which can be regarded as a danger to unity and integrity of country. So there was no need to give such a statement. SSF sees state pressure behind this statement. He said since Salabatpura episode a lot of physical as well as psychological violence has been done against Sikhs.
He accused that Indian State and Government of Punjab is totally ignoring sentiments and feelings of Sikhs. False charges of sedition against Sikhs, episodes like Ferozepore, non-activeness of State against dera head and excessive use of police force to suppress Sikh Struggle are steps towards closing all peaceful democratic means of protest. What ever is termed as misguided and ulterior acts in Akal Takht Jathedar statement is just an expression of anger and feelings of Sikh Nation.
He said Unity and Integrity of Sikh Nation is more important for Sikhs than unity and integrity of any geographical area. He said unity and integrity of Sikh nation has a threat from deras and Giani Joginder Singh along with all Sikhs is duty bound to protect Unity of Sikh Nation. SSF urges the Akal Takht Jathedar to refrain from issuing unnecessary and confusing statements under any kind of pressure.

Latest Breaking News from Punjab: Friday 13th July 2007

Avtar Singh, KAC chief trade charges

Amritsar, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) chief Bhai Mohkam Singh have crossed swords over seeking extension of the term of SGPC chief from the present one year to two-and-a-half years.
Both, KAC chief and SGPC president also traded charges of “siphoning of” gurdwara funds. Bhai Mohkam Singh said the SGPC must take Sikh masses and Panthic organisations into confidence before seeking the extension of the term of SGPC’s office-bearers.
While refuting the charges of Bhai Mohkam Singh that the Ratia Sikh conclave was postponed on the “directions” of the union home minister, the SGPC chief said this issue never cropped up at the meeting between SGPC delegation and the minister in New Delhi. “The delegation had simply sought acceptance of long-standing demands of the Sikhs, including handing over the rare manuscripts taken by the Army during Operation Bluestar,” he said.
The SGPC chief described Bhai Mohkam Singh a person of “dubious character” who had been “misleading” the Sikh masses for his “vested interests”. He said if the working of the SGPC was not up to the mark and there were reports of siphoning of gurdwara funds, then Bhai Mohkam Singh must tell his brother to resign as supervisor in the SGPC.
Meanwhile, Bhai Mohkam Singh and Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, a former Jathedar of Akal Takht, met Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti at his official residence here to lodge their protest for postponing the Sikh conclave at Ratia in Haryana.
They also urged Jathedar Vedanti to lead the KAC march proposed to be launched on July 15 from the residence of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale at Rode village. Though Jathedar Vedanti has assured his participation, yet sources say that he was unlikely to visit the residence of Sant Bhinderanwale to mark the beginning of the march.

‘Nandgarh has not resigned’

Amritsar, Dispelling speculations that Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh has resigned as Jathedar of Takht Nandgarh, SGPC chief Avtar Singh has said such rumours are being spread by some mischievous persons with a motive to create confusion in the Sikh Panth.
In a press note issued here today, the SGPC chief said Jathedar Nandgarh had been working for the Panth. Hence, there was no question of his stepping down as Jathedar.
Meanwhile, Jathedar Nandgarh remained inaccessible to the Sikh Sangat. His cellphone has been on the switched-off mode for the third consecutive day.

SAD (A) memo to Takht

Amritsar, Demanding strict action against the police officials who entered into a gurdwara in Talwara village, Fatehgarh Sahib, and took away books and photographs of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala, Bhai Beant Singh, Bhai Satwant Singh, Kehar Singh, Sukhdev Singh Sukha and others, the SAD (A) today presented a memorandum to Akal Takht here today.
Member of the SGPC Harcharn Singh Burjhari, along with other leaders, has urged the Jathedar of Akal Takht to immediately intervene.

CBI closes in on Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim
Sadhvis say they were raped

Sirsa: The CBI has indicated that it has enough evidence to convict Sacha Sauda dera head Gurmeet Ram Ram. One Sadhvi has said that she was raped for three years by the Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
The CBI has also procured many records of medical treatment and hospitalisation of sadhvis at the Dera hospital.
As the doomsday nears for the Dera Sacha Sauda's murder and molestation of girls-accused head Gurmeet Ram Rahim, desperate efforts have been unleashed by the Sirsa camp to ward off the imminent danger.
Even as top sources in the CBI confirmed that the federal sleuthing agency investigating the murder case is all set to submit the report on July 31 to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, new revelations have hit media headlines. It seems three sadhvis of the dera have now gone on record before the CBI alleging rape against the dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
On Thursday, the dera tried an another ace, writing a letter in the name of the people of India and claiming innocence in terms which only damn the dera head.
In its letter to the nation, written after the directive of the Akal Takht to the Sikhs to maintain integrity of the country, the Dera said that tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, had pardoned Mughal emperor Aurangzeb for cruelty shown towards the Sahibzadas and other family kin of the Guru, and the Guru did so to preserve peace and brotherhood to prevail in the society.
"Is it not disrespect of the Gurbani and the Gurus that three apologies submitted by the Dera have been disregarded?" the letter added.
It also claimed that the Dera chief can't even think of imitating the tenth Guru.
What the dera's spin masters probably could not interpret was that all said and done, they were comparing their chief to infamous Aurangzeb, not a comparison that would make the dera happy.

Dera Follower

Bathinda :Chakk Attar Singh Wala, the native village of Jaswinder , a dera follower who had burnt himself to death in Sirsa, was today fortified with heavy police deployment. Stringent checks were imposed on the movement of people.
The bhog ceremony of Jaswinder is slated to be held in the village on Friday and dera followers have announced to hold a 'naam charcha' on the occasion. As a preventive measure, the police today took about 20 dera followers into custody. Police said the arrests were made on the basis of the case registered against dera followers for attacking cops on May 15 outside Mini-Secretariat.
"Among the arrested persons are Gurcharan Mann and Ajaib , who are members of a seven-member committee of the dera," said sources. "Given yesterday's sequence of events during cremation ceremony of other dera follower in Bathinda, we had apprehensions that the persons who have been arrested today can trigger an untoward incident during the bhog ceremony," Bathinda SSP Naunihal said.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that father of Jaswinder and the dera committee moved two separate applications to the district administration for allowing the satsang during the bhog ceremony. While the Bathinda DC was not available for comments despite repeated attempts, highly-placed officials said a conditional permission was given by the DC in which "he had asked to use only deceased's house for holding the ceremony and that too in the presence of family members and close relatives only". In Bathinda, paramilitary and Punjab Police continued to hold flag marches at regular intervals throughout the day.

Latest Breaking News from Punjab: Thursday 12th July 2007

Gurmatta Withdrawal Nandgarh, Samaj lodge protest with Vedanti


Amritsar, Even as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa and senior Panthic leaders held a closed-door meeting with Jathedar of Akal Takht Joginder Singh Vedanti over withdrawing “Gurmatta” for holding a Sikh conclave at Ratia in Haryana, the Sant Samaj has convened a meeting at Damdama Sahib on July 19 to discuss the next course of action in the dera controversy.
Baba Harnam Singh claimed that the Sikh high priests, including Jathedar Vedanti, would attend the proposed meeting at Damdama Sahib.
It was learnt that Jathedar Nandgarh lodged his protest with Jathedar Vedanti for taking decision to withdraw the “Gurmatta” without taking him (Jathedar Nandgarh) into confidence. The unscheduled meeting was held at the residence of Jathedar Vedanti and it lasted for more than two hours.
The religious leaders tried to persuade Jathedar Vedanti to hold a march to Ratia, to which the latter refused. A section of the Sant Samaj had described the volte face by Jathedar Vedanti regarding the proposed conclave as “unprecedented” in the Sikh history.
It is believed that Jathedar Nandgarh told Jathedar Vedanti that with the withdrawal of the “Gurmatta”, the institution of Akal Takht had been denigrated.
Though Jathedar Akal Takht could take independent decision on an issue, as per Sikh traditions, he had never reversed the “Gurmatta” passed by five Sikh high priests in the past without taking all of them into confidence.
Meanwhile, the chief of Damdami Taksal said the meeting of the Sant Samaj, which was proposed to be held at Ferozepur on July 13, had been advanced to July 12.
He said Sikh leaders would meet the Ferozepur administration to withdraw cases registered against Sikhs following clashes with followers of the dera.

Case against Akali leaders sought Dera follower cremated

Bathinda, Dera Sacha Sauda follower Sham Sunder Bansal, who died after setting himself afire to lodge his protest against the alleged harassment of followers of the sect by Akali leaders, was cremated at the local cremation ground amid tight security.
As the situation was tense in the town, policemen and paramilitary forces were deployed at various places.
Meanwhile, SHO of the city police station Harwinder Singh Virk said a case under Section 309 of the IPC was registered against Bansal on July 8. However, the section in the case had been changed to 306 of the IPC (forcing a person to commit suicide).
He said Bansal had not levelled allegations against anyone that he was forced to commit suicide. He had mentioned in his statement that Sandhu and Sarup Chand Singla were present at the function, the SHO added.
Meanwhile, the police had to face tough time taking the vehicle carrying the body of Bansal to the cremation ground.
Earlier, followers of the dera staged a dharna in front of the vehicle carrying the body at Bansal’s house in Paras Ram Nagar. They demanded that a criminal case be registered against Akali leaders, including a former minister, for harassment of members of the sect.
They let the vehicle moved to the cremation ground after a senior functionary of the dera assured them that a criminal case had been registered against two Akali leaders.
On the way, too, hundreds of followers staged a dharna in front of the Paras Ram Nagar police post, demanding the copy of the FIR in the immolation case.
The body was cremated according to the rituals of the sect.

Dayal urges dera chief to settle issue

Chandigarh, Dr Joginder Dayal, member of the national executive of the CPI, here today urged the chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda to reciprocate in a positive manner to the decision taken by Giani Joginder Singh, Jathedar of Akal Takht, with regard to the cancellation of the Sikh convention at Ratia.
He said the dera chief should come forward to settle all issues with those who had been feeling hurt because of his certain actions. He said the dera chief should confine himself only to religious activity and should have nothing to do with politics.
“It was wrong on the part of dera management to extend open support to a particular party,” he added. “If the dera chief is interested in politics, he should come out openly into the political arena,” said Dr Dayal.
Dr Dayal has urged the Sikh clergy to withdraw the call of social boycott of dera premis. “Social boycott is not desirable in our society. For centuries, Dalits have been suffering because of their social boycott by upper classes.”
The call given for social boycott leads to serious problems in society for decades to come. It can lead to vertical divisions on the basis of several factors including religion,” he said.
Commenting on Badal government, Dr Dayal said it was a direction-less government. The state was failing on the industrial, unemployment, law and order, education and other fronts. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is not worried to resolve these problems.
On the problem of rural indebtedness, he said, “All loans of farmers should be waived”, he said. Sick industry should be revived and the Union Government should be compelled to given industrial package to Punjab on the Himachal pattern.
He said because of unavailability of potable water, cancer was spreading in certain parts of the Malwa region. Level of toxicity in drinking water was very high, he added.
He said the oil refinery project in Punjab had been revived because of Laxmi Mittal and not because of the SAD-BJP government or the Congress party.
Dr Dayal said Punjab was being ruled by the SAD-BJP and not by the people’s government. The SAD-BJP was protecting its own activists and targeting opponents. The same was done by the previous Congress government, he said.

House of dera member torched or is it just false cases against sikhs

Bhagta Bhai Ka (Bathinda), July 11The house of Dera Sacha Sauda follower Rajinder Pal was set on fire by miscreants here late last night. At the time of the incident all members of the family were sleeping on the roof.
Fear gripped dera followers here and in adjoining villages after the incident came to light this morning.
Rajinder and his brother have been putting up in the house for the past many years. They run separate shops in the town.
Members of the family raised an alarm before the fire spread. They, with the help of local residents, doused the fire after little effort. The miscreants sprinkled kerosene on the front doors of the house to set these on fire.
One of the members of the family told The Tribune that that when they noticed flames, they immediately extinguished it with the help of local residents.
She said though the police was informed about the incident immediately, policemen and officials visited their house this morning only. No security had been provided to them by the police, she added.
The front doors of the house, a bed and window had got damaged in the fire.
Dyalpura SHO Jagjit Singh said a case under Sections 436 and 427 of the IPC had been registered on a complaint of Rajinder.

JD (S) flays remarks on Sukhbir

Hoshiarpur, July 11The Janata Dal (S) has condemned the recent statement of chief of Damdami Taksal Harnam Singh asking acting president of the SAD Sukhbir Singh Badal to get himself baptised if he wanted to continue to lead the Sikh community in general and the Panthic party in particular.
Executive committee member of the Janata Dal (S) Balwant Singh Khera, in a press note issued here today, also criticised SGPC chief Avtar Singh for giving a full-page advertisement in various newspapers regarding the launch of “Singh Sajo campaign” from July 15.
“There are around 2 crore Sikhs in the world, of which only 5 per cent are Amritdhari Sikhs. Therefore, it is illogical to say that Gursikhs are lowly than Amritdhari Sikhs. Every Sikh who believes in ‘Kirat karo, nam japo and band chako’ is decent”, Khera said.

Indian State's interference in Sikh Religious matters is unwarranted

Chandigarh:Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu (Senior Vice President, Akali Dal Amritsar) held a press conference in Chandigarh. He claimed that Indian State is interfering in religious matters of Sikhs and this is unauthorized interference. He accused that State is ignoring sentiments of Sikh Nation and trying to forcibly suppressing Sikh movement in dera issue. For instance, he said, State stopped many persons and leaders from participating 9 July dharna in Mohali held by KAC. He informed SAD (A) youth leader S. Mandhir SIngh and his Jatha were stopped by Ropar Police. Similarly, Dal Khalsa Jatha was also stoped at Ropar. There are other incidents of like nature also. He said State is on its' way of closing all peaceful means of protest and this is extremely dangerous. He said if situation goes out of control the whole responsibility shall be on Central and State Government and its' agencies. Commenting on postponing Ratia convention he said firstly established Sikh Leadership takes decision without consulting Sikh Sangat and then postpone it under State Pressure. This trend is reducing the credibility of this leadership. As on 08 July S. Ram Singh of SAD (A) has announced in a press conference that SAD (A) has separated itself from Khalsa Action Committee, Bhai Bittu said that it may be thinking an individual and it is not decision of the party. He said we joined KAC after deciding for it in a Political Affairs Committee, and only PAC has the right to decide in this regard. On charges of Sedition against him and S. Simranjeet SIngh Maan and others, Bhai Daljit SIngh said that State is misusing law and legal process to trap Sikh leaders. He said role of Judiciary in this matter is also discouraging. It is worth notable that stay on arrest of Bhai Daljit Singh in a sedition case at Fatehgarh Sahib is vacated by the court of Addn. Sessions Judge on 4 July, the day when court rejected bail application. Meanwhile on 09 July the High Court has asked the Punjab Government to file reply by 02 August on bail application filed by Bhai Daljit SIngh in High Court through his council, Advo. Navkiran Singh, But the court has not stayed arrest of Bhai Bittu and police is in his search.

Haryana govt imposes restrictions on dera Sacha Sauda function

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Government has issued instructions that the followers of Dera Sacha Sauda would neither be allowed to use any public place nor loudspeakers for the purpose of their scheduled 'Nam Charcha' on July 12 at Ratia in Fatehabad district.
This was revealed by Haryana Chief Secretary, Prem Prashant while interacting with media persons here Wednesday.
Prem Prashant said that in case anyone has to do 'Nam Charcha', it might be done at one's home. He said that a decision to this effect has been taken to maintain peace in the area.
The Chief Secretary said that as the proposed Sikh rally, which was scheduled for today, had also been deferred by the Akal Takht Jathedar, the tense situation has been diffused. He appreciated that wise sense has prevailed upon both parties. As he was replying to the questions of media persons, he rang up Deputy Commissioner Fatehabad to enquire about the situation in Ratia. He was informed by the Deputy Commissioner that some people had visited the Gurdwara at Ratia, but returned after paying obeisance and situation was normal. The State Government would protect life and property of the people, he added.
In reply to another question, Prem Prashant made it clear that no instruction has been issued to prevent the people from visiting Gurudwara in Ratia. The State Government is in touch with Punjab Government and Chief Ministers of both States too have been discussing the issue with each other, he added.
On the issue of on going hunger strike by some of the followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, the Chief Secretary said that none of their demands related to Haryana, but these were for Punjab. However, the doctors of Haryana were examining medically those on hunger strike and in case of worsening of anyone's condition, they were being shifted to hospital.
When asked to comment of the power situation, he said that power had been purchased at a rate of even Rs.seven or eight per unit for short term so as to ensure its supply to consumers.
He denied having received any proposal for construction of metro rail from Chandigarh to Ambala. However, he added that efforts were being made to connect Faridabad with metro rail in first phase of the project, but it would be possible by 2012 or 2013. Gurgaon would be connected with metro rail by 2010.
When his attention was drawn towards a newsitem appearing in a section of the press concerning the issue of tenure for IAS cadre posts in the State, the Chief Secretary made it clear that every State has its schedule of tenure. The Central Government has amended All India Service Rules for determination of fixed tenure for IAS cadre posts. The State Chief Minister has recommended a minimum tenure of one year for all IAS cadre posts in the State and his views have been communicated to the Central Government. In case of transfer of an officer, the issue is looked into by the Tenure Committee headed by the Chief Secretary. he added.