KAC takes fight against Dera to Sonia’s doorstep, memo tells Gandhi some home truths
KAC takes fight against Dera to Sonia’s doorstep, memo tells Gandhi some home truths
Written by Ashok Sharma
Thursday, December 13, 2007
NEW DELHI: Lodging a protest right in front of the residence of UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the Khalsa Action Committee brought into the national focus the blasphemous activities of the Sirsa Dera and its chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim and asked it to take immediate steps to assuage the hurt psyche and feelings of the Sikh people.
In a memorandum submitted on the occasion, the KAC leadership said the continuing support and patronisation of the Dera and its pseudo-saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim by the Congress has caused pain and anguish to the devout in Punjab. It particularly mentioned the utterances of the Punjab Congress chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and various Congress leaders in Haryana in this regard which have angered the Sikhs.
“Malafide interference in the activities of the church by the state is unwarranted and uncalled for. The history of Italy and the Vatican are testimony to the two working in their own domain and respecting each other. Nobody in India can understand more than your good self,” the KAC said, clearly keeping in mind the origins and background of Sonia Gandhi herself.
The Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) is an umbrella organisation of various social, religious, political and human rights organizations including Shiromani Akali Dal ( Amritsar), SAD (1920), Dal Khalsa, Damdami Taksal, Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, International Human Rights Organisation, Punjab Human Rights Organisation.
It said, “Unfortunately, the history of Punjab is replete with many instances of the state meddling in the religious affairs of the minorit(ies)… all federating units and the Union government misuse discretionary funds to foist schismatic forums to weaken the ethos of religions of minority peoples.”
“This is precisely the case with the Sirsa dera. The avowed aim of this outfit is to underscore and attack the concept of Shabad Guru –a fundamental tenet of the Sikh religion.”
Recalling the events in the past, the memo said the ministry of home affairs “fired the first salvo against the Sikhs by sponsoring the pseudo-Nirankaris in the early fifties, till it became an uncontrollable Frankenstein Monster resulting in the killing of 13 devout Sikhs in Amritsar on 13 April 1978.” It said that this cult too is again raising its head and is seen on the streets of Punjab, taunting devout Sikhs.
“The Sirsa Dera chief is a melodramatic cultist leader like the ones which appeared in the United States in the early eighties. Such cultist leaders hold such a sinister sway over their followers that they can ultimately lead them to mass suicides. In the present case, matters have been made worse by state patronage. The Congress party in Haryana and Panjab has been fuelling this Dera, not only to achieve its premeditated aim of undermining the Sikh religion, but also to reap electoral benefits by influencing the Dera chief to issue diktats in its favour as was done in the last assembly elections in Punjab and Haryana. “
In a scathing statement, it added, “The role of the Congress party has been mysterious, its intentions, malafide and its machinations, Machiavellian.”
Explaining the circumstances, the memorandum said the act of the Sirsa Dera head of trying to imitate the Tenth Master Guru Gobind Singh and copying the concept of Amrit (the Khalsa baptism ceremony) “has caused deep and inconsolable hurt.”
“It is in the fitness of things to mention that this person, Gurmeet Ram Rahim has cases of rape and murder against him. The courts may have granted bail to him but the manner in which logistic support in the form of Z-plus security; bullet proof vehicles and 24-hour armed guards are provided to him, smacks of the state protecting its honoured guest! Had the pseudo-saint not indulged in open blasphemy, the CBI, which was postponing charging the baba, may have still not pursued the case. We believe that this too is the result of the closeness of the baba with the Congress party and respective governments in Haryana, Punjab and Delhi. The Indian judiciary was also quick to treat him differently. Sikh leaders having dissenting political opinion have cases foisted upon them many times over.”
“Despite Sikh protests, things have been allowed to come to a pass where the Dera head projects himself as a law unto himself. It is the general belief of Sikhs and other minorities that the judiciary is manoeuvred to suit the requirements of the ruling party. It has happened in this case too. While we would not like to serve a warning, we would like to point out that even in the case of the pseudo-Nirankaris, our wounds were allowed to fester and even in the present case, we have been pushed to the wall.”
Not mincing any words in saying that there has not been substantive improvement in the relations between the Sikhs and the Indian state, the memo said a large number of issues and concerns await redress: release of Sikh detainees languishing in various jails, withdrawal of black list, commutation of death sentence of Prof. Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, restoring to Punjab's right to its river waters, dismantling the SYL canal, providing corridor to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, amendment to the Indian constitution, All India Gurdwara Act, enactment of enabling provisions under the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, et al.
“We seek your immediate indulgence to take effective measures against the Sirsa Dera and its chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim. All patronage and support to this baba and other such self-styled bigots must be stopped. Though the matter is subjudice, your government can still set-up a Special Fast Track Court to try the accused under various offences. The Congress party must be seen to be secular in Punjab in letter and spirit. Under your leadership, you should bury the hatchet put up by your predecessors and make serious attempts to normalise the polity in Punjab. All vicious propaganda against the Sikhs in the media must cease. You should issue strict guidelines for the Congress leadership in Punjab directing them to desist from interjecting in Sikh religious affairs.”
The memorandum was signed by Bhai Mohkam Singh Convenor, KAC, Daljit Singh, Co-convenor, KAC, Baba Harnam Singh Dhuma, Head, Damdami Taksal, Bhai Jasbir Singh, former Jathedar, Akal Takht, Kanwarpal Singh, Spokesperson, KAC & Dal Khalsa, Jagdish Singh Chhinda, Member, SGPC, Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, President, Dal Khalsa, Advocate D. S. Gill, Chairman, IHRO, Kamikkar Singh, Presidium Member, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Gurdeep Singh Bhatinda, Secretary, Akali Dal (1920), Baba Resham Singh, Baba Gurmeet Singh Sirsa, Harpal Singh Cheema, Presidium Member, Shiromani Akali Dal (Armritsar), Darshan Singh Mand, Member, KAC, Balkharn Singh, Member, KAC.
http://tinyurl.com/356j2a
Written by Ashok Sharma
Thursday, December 13, 2007
NEW DELHI: Lodging a protest right in front of the residence of UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the Khalsa Action Committee brought into the national focus the blasphemous activities of the Sirsa Dera and its chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim and asked it to take immediate steps to assuage the hurt psyche and feelings of the Sikh people.
In a memorandum submitted on the occasion, the KAC leadership said the continuing support and patronisation of the Dera and its pseudo-saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim by the Congress has caused pain and anguish to the devout in Punjab. It particularly mentioned the utterances of the Punjab Congress chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and various Congress leaders in Haryana in this regard which have angered the Sikhs.
“Malafide interference in the activities of the church by the state is unwarranted and uncalled for. The history of Italy and the Vatican are testimony to the two working in their own domain and respecting each other. Nobody in India can understand more than your good self,” the KAC said, clearly keeping in mind the origins and background of Sonia Gandhi herself.
The Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) is an umbrella organisation of various social, religious, political and human rights organizations including Shiromani Akali Dal ( Amritsar), SAD (1920), Dal Khalsa, Damdami Taksal, Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, International Human Rights Organisation, Punjab Human Rights Organisation.
It said, “Unfortunately, the history of Punjab is replete with many instances of the state meddling in the religious affairs of the minorit(ies)… all federating units and the Union government misuse discretionary funds to foist schismatic forums to weaken the ethos of religions of minority peoples.”
“This is precisely the case with the Sirsa dera. The avowed aim of this outfit is to underscore and attack the concept of Shabad Guru –a fundamental tenet of the Sikh religion.”
Recalling the events in the past, the memo said the ministry of home affairs “fired the first salvo against the Sikhs by sponsoring the pseudo-Nirankaris in the early fifties, till it became an uncontrollable Frankenstein Monster resulting in the killing of 13 devout Sikhs in Amritsar on 13 April 1978.” It said that this cult too is again raising its head and is seen on the streets of Punjab, taunting devout Sikhs.
“The Sirsa Dera chief is a melodramatic cultist leader like the ones which appeared in the United States in the early eighties. Such cultist leaders hold such a sinister sway over their followers that they can ultimately lead them to mass suicides. In the present case, matters have been made worse by state patronage. The Congress party in Haryana and Panjab has been fuelling this Dera, not only to achieve its premeditated aim of undermining the Sikh religion, but also to reap electoral benefits by influencing the Dera chief to issue diktats in its favour as was done in the last assembly elections in Punjab and Haryana. “
In a scathing statement, it added, “The role of the Congress party has been mysterious, its intentions, malafide and its machinations, Machiavellian.”
Explaining the circumstances, the memorandum said the act of the Sirsa Dera head of trying to imitate the Tenth Master Guru Gobind Singh and copying the concept of Amrit (the Khalsa baptism ceremony) “has caused deep and inconsolable hurt.”
“It is in the fitness of things to mention that this person, Gurmeet Ram Rahim has cases of rape and murder against him. The courts may have granted bail to him but the manner in which logistic support in the form of Z-plus security; bullet proof vehicles and 24-hour armed guards are provided to him, smacks of the state protecting its honoured guest! Had the pseudo-saint not indulged in open blasphemy, the CBI, which was postponing charging the baba, may have still not pursued the case. We believe that this too is the result of the closeness of the baba with the Congress party and respective governments in Haryana, Punjab and Delhi. The Indian judiciary was also quick to treat him differently. Sikh leaders having dissenting political opinion have cases foisted upon them many times over.”
“Despite Sikh protests, things have been allowed to come to a pass where the Dera head projects himself as a law unto himself. It is the general belief of Sikhs and other minorities that the judiciary is manoeuvred to suit the requirements of the ruling party. It has happened in this case too. While we would not like to serve a warning, we would like to point out that even in the case of the pseudo-Nirankaris, our wounds were allowed to fester and even in the present case, we have been pushed to the wall.”
Not mincing any words in saying that there has not been substantive improvement in the relations between the Sikhs and the Indian state, the memo said a large number of issues and concerns await redress: release of Sikh detainees languishing in various jails, withdrawal of black list, commutation of death sentence of Prof. Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, restoring to Punjab's right to its river waters, dismantling the SYL canal, providing corridor to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, amendment to the Indian constitution, All India Gurdwara Act, enactment of enabling provisions under the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, et al.
“We seek your immediate indulgence to take effective measures against the Sirsa Dera and its chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim. All patronage and support to this baba and other such self-styled bigots must be stopped. Though the matter is subjudice, your government can still set-up a Special Fast Track Court to try the accused under various offences. The Congress party must be seen to be secular in Punjab in letter and spirit. Under your leadership, you should bury the hatchet put up by your predecessors and make serious attempts to normalise the polity in Punjab. All vicious propaganda against the Sikhs in the media must cease. You should issue strict guidelines for the Congress leadership in Punjab directing them to desist from interjecting in Sikh religious affairs.”
The memorandum was signed by Bhai Mohkam Singh Convenor, KAC, Daljit Singh, Co-convenor, KAC, Baba Harnam Singh Dhuma, Head, Damdami Taksal, Bhai Jasbir Singh, former Jathedar, Akal Takht, Kanwarpal Singh, Spokesperson, KAC & Dal Khalsa, Jagdish Singh Chhinda, Member, SGPC, Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, President, Dal Khalsa, Advocate D. S. Gill, Chairman, IHRO, Kamikkar Singh, Presidium Member, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Gurdeep Singh Bhatinda, Secretary, Akali Dal (1920), Baba Resham Singh, Baba Gurmeet Singh Sirsa, Harpal Singh Cheema, Presidium Member, Shiromani Akali Dal (Armritsar), Darshan Singh Mand, Member, KAC, Balkharn Singh, Member, KAC.
http://tinyurl.com/356j2a
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