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Preying on piety
Perils of not arresting Gurmeet Ram Rahim   
Dr. Amrik Singh Sacramento                    

Law enforcement’s mysterious role in allowing Dera Sauda’s chief to continue his criminal activities behind the facade of ‘his fight against social evils’ will have disastrous effect on the health of body-politic of India. India’s premier intelligence agency, CBI has made a sound case of coercion, torture, murder and rape against the Dera chief. His defiance after CBI filing the charge-sheet has become a matter of concern when it has come to light that Ram Rahim assigned jobs to his armed men to destroy the evidence he alleged CBI has trumped up against him. Key witnesses panicked for their lives. Government not daring to dislodge him from the seat of terror has sent shivers down their spine. It made them feel as hapless as Ram Chander Chattrapati did after the murder of former dera manager, Ranjit Singh. Belonging to families of humble origin, key witnesses feel incapacitated to confront the immeasurable might of the Dera Mukhi. Sources say Gurmeet Ram Rahim is using this time to produce videographic evidence of his being a ‘messiah’ of people caught up in drug abuse, female infanticide and sickness. The fact of intimidation of witnesses on the one hand, and psychological brainwashing of Dera’s followers on the other can pose a serious hazard to the secular credentials of politicians in power. It is time for both leftists and rightists to break the hegemony of dubious battles. 

Ranjit had blind faith in Gumeet Ram Rahim’s spiritual powers. He dedicated his life to Dera. Being one of most trusted men in the inner circle, he was favored more than others. He did not know why? Gurmeet Ram Rahim had set his malicious eye on his sister. She alleged that he raped her and threatened to kill her brother if she uttered a word about his acting as Krishna in love with Gopis (Saadhvis).  Ranjit came to know about his sister’s rape. He could not accept as true that his ‘Sat Guru’ was merely a sexual predator and a serial rapist.  He must have revised his views on the revelation that Sat Sangat, Nam Charcha, Sewa, blood donations were merely to put a garb on his nefarious designs.  Air-conditioned rooms for stay, restaurant, school, college and hospital were all to lure the people in power and naive followers. Underneath ran a larger network of criminals, sexual offenders and unscrupulous politicians. But the question arises will Guinness World Records of blood donations ‘wash the blood from his hand?’ Macbeth in Shakespeare’s play had said, “Will all great Naptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?”  Macbeth knew that it wasn’t possible, yet he didn’t give up the battle without trying until the end. Three witches made Macbeth ‘bloody, bold and resolute’ by predicting that he will never be vanquished.

The story of Ashok Malhotra of possessing 50 luxury cars with VIP numbers, documents of hundreds of plots came under the scanner of CBI only after Delhi Court’s Registrar forwarded an anonymous complaint to the investigating agency. Similarly, on an anonymous complaint, Punjab and Haryana  High Court had ordered CBI to examine murder and rape charges against Dera chief.  In both cases, the ruling Congress’s involvement is to the extent of unconstitutionally stopping the law of the land to take its own course.  In another case, on the contrary,  award of death sentence for murder and conspiracy to Hawara and others has not only been hailed by these Congressmen, but also justified in a patriotic vein under the constitution of India. Are all Indian citizens equal in the eyes of law? Indira Gandhi having failed to answer this question attacked Sikhs’ holiest shrine in 1984. The forerunners of Indian Congress today turn their face when asked these questions. Having opened his mouth after four months of Dera nuisance, Capt. Amarinder Singh compared Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s CBI charge sheet with that of his own by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. He claims to have been a target of political vendetta, so maybe Gurmeet Ram Rahim, according to the former chief minister. However, no words were expressed on Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s plot to hurt Sikhs and belittle their Gurus. 

 The criminal negligence of Haryana Police after Ranjit Singh’s murder resulted in yet another murder of the Editor of “Poora Sach.”  Providing immunity to Dera chief against arrest from November 2002 to May 13, 2007,  led to a series of crimes that also included the death of Kamaljit Singh  shot by Dera follower in Salabatpura.  Sources close to Dera say that CBI has only touched the tip of the iceberg.  Dera’s safe haven to erratic politicians, criminals and drug dealers may never come to light.  CBI completed its investigation under a great political pressure. What to talk about Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s interrogation in rape and murder cases, the CBI team could not procure his computer, phone records, and documents in its custody to unravel inconvenient factors having a range of destabilizing the political set-up. Government’s failure to put him behind the bars offered him an advantage of destroying the crucial evidence. The complaint of witnesses should have been immediately investigated to hold Gurmeet Ram Rahim guilty of another crime- that is threatening the witnesses. He continues to manage and monitor illegal activities. He also flaunts his special powers and invincibility. Even after being indicted for rape and murder by the country’s top investigating agency , he is being treated as somebody “ Special” no matter how heinous the crimes he committed. Justice Mittal though has directed him to join investigations but that will be conducted by Punjab police on his turf. Who will be at home: Police or Dera chief?    

CBI has requested to provide security to key witnesses in the case because it has been alleged that Dera chief had tried to lure, threaten and kill them if they didn’t change their statement. Though Dera has denied any such attempts, yet indications are that Gurmeet Ram Rahim tried to influence witnesses after CBI filed the chargesheet. He has successfully roped in Khatta Singh’s sister to come in front of the camera so to denounce her brother. How much money might have changed hands? How much coercion or influence exercised?  Perhaps, nobody will know.  

Dera Mukhi is making the last ditch efforts to hide behind a possible ‘escalation of Dera and Sikh violence.’ In the wake of the High Court edict, Dera has started posting incriminating, incendiary and inflammatory video clips on Youtube. In one of the clips posted on August 14, 2007, Sikhs have been categorized as Haivaan and Premis as Insaan.  The attempt is obviously to push strained relations to the point of no return. It has been taking place right under the nose of political masters and diabolic orchestration of Gurmeet Ram Rahim.  Doesn’t he need to be instantly isolated from any contact with the public: men, women and children whose faith he belied? The sooner government comes into action; the better it will be to save fraternal amity the Punjab once was so proud of. 

22 August, 2007
 

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