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KAC takes
fight against Dera to Sonia’s doorstep,
memo tells Gandhi some home truths
WSN Bureau
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.
12 December, 2007
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