AMRITSAR: Three days after the Sikh sangat made its sentiments clear with a vociferous Khalsa March, the Sikh high priests led by Akal Takht jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti virtually  dismissed the so-called new apology, said it is merely a press note and does not even explain why Dera Sauda’s Gurmeet Ram Rahim imitated the tenth Sikh Master, nor promised that it will not be repeated. When asked whether it amounted to rejection of the apology, Vedanti said, “This is no apology, it is merely a press note.” The ‘apology’ was mediated by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Paramjit Singh Sarna. Jathedar Vedanti also called for a ‘Sabha’, asort of Sikh sammelan, on July 11 at Ratia in  Haryana. He said the clergy will be consulting several panthic bodies in India and abroad  before formulating its final view about the next  step in tackling deravaad and Sirsa issue.

Earlier this morning, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar delivered the sealed envelope, contents of which were worst-kept secret, to the high  priests. The high priests remained closetted for hours before Vedanti came out with the decision. Soon after the high priests met on Wednesday morning (India time), they refused to meet a delegation of Khalsa Action Committee led by Bhai Daljit Singh, following which the KAC distributed a two-page note to the media. Later, as the high priests seemed to have reviewed their decision and agreed to meet the KAC panel, the  latter had already left the venue. Jathedar Vedanti had cut short his Canada tour, reaching here late Tuesday night, to participate in the meeting.

Representatives of Akali Dal (Amritsar), Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle and other panthic bodies also met the clergy. In its two-page memo, the KAC said as per the Gurmata of May 17 issued at Sri Damdama Sahib, the Sirsa dera and its chief has joined the ranks of Minas, Dhirmalias, Ramrayiyas and nakli Nirankaris and an apology is worth considering only when it comes from a feeling of true repentance. It reiterated its conditions for accepting the apology as shunning the name ‘Sacha Sauda’, stopping misuse of bani and bana, misuse of Sikh lexicon, slogans, imitation  of panj pyaras, and the jaam-e-insa drama.

Akal Takht jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti is cutting short his visit abroad to preside over the June 27 meeting but in the light of the expression of Sikh sentiments through the Sunday’s march, accepting the apology has become a very difficult prospect.

At Takht Damdama Sahib, Jathedar Nandgarh came out to receive the march and honour the Panj Piaras with "siropas", but was jeered at  by many in the sangat. The police had a tough time saving him  from the wrath of angry youth. Among the key leaders leading the march were Bhai Daljit Singh of Akali Dal (Amritsar), Kanwarpal Singh of Dal Khalsa, former Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, Mohkam Singh of Damdami Taksal, former ambassador Harinder Singh Norway, Paramjit Singh Gazi, SGPC member Karnail Singh Panjoli etc. The Akali Dal and the SGPC remained away from the march, and by all available accounts, the officialdom is worried about the success of the march. Some amount of expression of rage was also witnessed in the sloganeering during the march though the leaders, including Bhai Daljit Singh of Akali Dal (Amritsar) and Bhai Kanwarpal Singh of Dal Khalsa ensured total control over the cadres. The police had put in certain obstacles at Salabatpura where the Dera Sacha Sauda’s cult largest premises is located but the marchers flung aside the obstacles and continued with their march in a peaceful fashion.

The government had spilled hundreds of jawans of Punjab Police and paramilitary forces like the CRPF and the Rapid Action Force besides the Army. There were many a nervous moments for the administration which had made massive security arrangements. Police had wanted the Khalsa March to be diverted from village Jalal towards Bhai Roopa village but its plans remained just that. Enraged youth broke down the barriers at Dayalpura village and took to the Dullewal village road which goes perilously close to the Salabatpura dera.

At one stage, the police became dumbstruck and the senior officers seemed utterly confounded. Bathinda SSP Naunihal Singh himself led the naka on the Rampura- Salabatpura road. Ignoring the route charted out by the administration via Jalal Nathana, the protesters removed barricades of earth-filled tractor-trailers near Nawan Dialpura village to pass through Dullewala (a stone's throw from the Salabatpura dera), Bhai Rupa, Rampura Phul, Mandi Kalan, Ram Nagar and Maur Mandi to reach Talwandi Sabo. Another challenge for the security personnel was near the Dera's "nam charcha ghar" in Ramnagar village. It was at this stage that the leadership role played by Bhai Daljit Singh, Kanwarpal Singh and Jasbir Singh Rode ensured that the cadre remained under control. Sangat came out in huge numbers from not only Bathinda but also Moga, Barnala, Mansa and Faridkot apart from other places.

Slogans in favour of Khalistan, militancy and late Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale were also raised by a few groups. Protesters also raised slogans against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh. They accused them of attempting to  sabotage the "Khalsa march". Patiala Range IG M K Tiwari, Faridkot Range DIG Dr Jatinder Jain, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Bhandari, SSP Naunihal Singh, and officers of the paramilitary forces remained present and invariably on tenterhooks. The marching sangat braved the heat, walking, driving, sitting on tractor-trolleys, cars, jeeps and riding mobikes and scooters, all behind the palanquin carrying Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at the head of the march. The Khalsa March started at 11.30 am and concluded at Damdama Sahib at 7 pm. Nearly 800 to 1,000 vehicles comprised the march which was several kilometres long. Chabeels of sweetened water punctuated the entire route of the march from Gurdwara Dina Kangar in Moga to Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo. The tussle over the route had earlier continued till Saturday late night between the panthic leaders and the administration.

Panthic leaders gave clear indications that the show of strength which was witnessed during the march will be repeated on June 27th at the Akal Takht. Indications were also clear that if the 'sealed envelope' apology turns out to be the same as published in the newspapers, it won't be accepted. Leaflets were distributed which talked of making the preaching of Shabad Guru as the main thrust area. These also talked of winning back the misguided Sikhs who have dithered towards the Dera Sacha Sauda and other deras. It also talked of enlarging the struggle's scope by saying not only the Dera Sauda but also rest of the guru-doms and dera-vaadis will be targeted.