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.