Latest Breaking News from Punjab: Monday 2nd July 2007

SGPC meeting today Sikh bodies divided over shifting of battle to Haryana

Amritsar, The executive meeting of the SGPC to be held at Fatehgarh Sahib tomorrow will discuss the call of the Sikh clergy to hold a conclave at Ratia in Haryana on July 11 even as various Sikh organisations are divided over shifting of the battle against Dera Sacha Sauda from Punjab to Haryana.
This will be the first meeting of the SGPC executive after the rejection of the fresh apology by the clergy and interim bail to dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court had also issued a notice of motion to the Punjab government in this regard.
Though the Sikh high priests had announced that they would participate in the proposed conclave at Ratia , the SAD and the SGPC have also expressed their reservations on the “gurmatta” passed at the Akal Takht secretariat here on June 27.
However, it will become difficult for the Sikh high priests to back out of the “gurmatta” due to the pressure from hardliners. Moreover, the Khalsa Action Committee has also supported the call to hold a conclave at Ratia.
Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti was reportedly not interested in holding the conclave in Haryana but it was Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh who insisted that the Panthic congregation should be held in Haryana with a view to presenting a show of strength.
On the other hand some pro-Congress Sikh leaders met Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and suggested him that the Punjab border be sealed a day before the proposed conclave.
Tomorrow’s SGPC meeting would also discuss the statement of senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, who has equated the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh with that of Vedas and Upanishads. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Paramjit Singh Sarna had urged Jathedar Vedanti to call a meeting of all Sikh organisations in this regard. He said Parkash Singh Badal should clarify his stand whether he had approved the statement of Joshi or not.

Sikh activists chase ‘premis’; no case registered

Moga, Timely police intervention today averted a showdown between followers of Dera Sacha Sauda and Sikh activists when the dera followers were chased by the activists in cars and motorcycles.
The chase, which started from Naam Charcha Ghar located at Moga bypass, concluded 15 km away at the railway crossing at Dagru village.
According to dera followers, three members of the 25-member state committee had arrived at the local branch of dera to hold a meeting.
The members were Harjit Singh, Mahinderpal Bittu and Jatinder Kumar. After the conclusion of the meeting they, along with five more members, boarded two cars and left for Ferozepur.
Bittu said as soon as they left some vehicles began chasing them. He said smelling trouble they informed the police immediately.
He alleged that the activists armed with sharp-edged weapons and sticks came out of their vehicles at the crossing.
Meanwhile, the dera followers came out of their vehicles and mingled with the crowd to save themselves, he added.
The activists smashed windows of their vehicles and deflated tyres. The police arrived on the scene and brought the situation under control.
The SHO, Sadar police station, under whose jurisdiction the area fell, said it was a minor incident and no case had been registered.

Future Course of Action Announced by KAC

The Khasla Action Committee has announced its' future course of Action in Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS) issue. Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu and Bhai Mohkam Singh announced schedule of future actions of KAC in a press conference held at Jalandhar.

Dharna in Chandigarh on 9 July

KAC shall hold Dharna in Chandigarh before residence of CM of Punjab and Haryana on 09 July, 2007. In this dharna 1100 persons shall participate. This is in protest of in-activeness of both Governments in dera sauda issue. KAC accuses both for favouring dera in one way or other.

6 More Khalsa Marches in Malwa

Khalsa Action Committee shall hold 6 more Khalsa Marches in six District of Malwa region of Punjab. March shall be held on 15 July in Moga, 20 July in Faridkot, 25 July in Mukatsar, 31 July in Barnala, 5 August in Sangrur and on 10 August in Mansa. Further Action shall be announced in a Convension to be organized in Gurusar Mehraj (Bathinda) on 14 August.

Sarna Resign From Converorship of KAC

S. Parmjeet Singh Sarna has resigned from convernorship of Khalsa Action Committee. His resignation is accepted by the Committee in its' 29 May Meeting at Fatehgarh Sahib, though Sarna shall remain member of KAC. Next Convenior shall be elected on 4 July in a meeting to be held at Ludhiana.

Differences with sant Samaj Resolved

Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu calimed in the press conference that diffrences with Sant Samaj has been resolved and now onwards two representatives shall participate in all meetings of KAC.

Sikh leaders seek Akal Takht meet over Joshi's remarks

NEW DELHI: Sikh religious leaders on Sunday made an appeal to the Akal Takht to convene a meeting of top five clerics over what they alleged were attempts to portray their faith as part of Hinduism. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna condemned senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi's comments reported in Sangh mouthpiece that what Guru Gobind Singh preached was no different from the message of Vedas and Upnishads. Sarna, a fierce critic of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, also cited an RSS statement posted on its Website that Sikhs are part of the Hindu samaj . "Guru Gobind Singh's ideology was unique and completely different from Vedas or Upnishads. Such comparisons are highly objectionable and condemnable and we appeal to the Akal Takht to take strong note of them and call a meeting of the five Singh Sahibans (clerics) to work out a response to this continuous propaganda," he remarked. In his comments, senior SGPC member Harinder Pal Singh also denounced Joshi's remarks. "Those who make such comments are trying to further a set agenda," he said. There is a dispute over many portions of the Dasam Granth, or the collective writings of Guru Gobind Singh, with a large number of Sikh scholars saying they were not authored by him because they are themed on "avtaarvaad", or incarnation, a concept rejected in the faith. The issue is pending before the Akal Takht, the highest seat of Sikh temporal authority, over the past many years.