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Mann chucks out Bhai Daljit Singh in turf and
ego wars
WSN Bureau
 AMRITSAR:
Not that it was not being seen with leaders equipped with some sense
of pre-monition, but many wanted to avoid bringing things to such a
pass. Finally, Sardar Simranjit Singh Mann has chucked out Bhai
Daljit Singh Bittu. Two men of considerable personal sacrifice have
clashed, but to the detriment of the Sikh quom.
Several times in the history of mankind, heroes have clashed but the
problem this time was that the clash was not over any principles. It
seems issues of personal ego and petty turf war have pushed Sardar
Mann into taking a step which will only hurt the community, already
deprived of meaningful leadership.
When Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu and Sardar Mann had come together, and
the former had assumed the second most important position in the
Akali Dal ( Amritsar), many panth-dokhis had lost their sleep. Now
these are the very people who will be full of glee.
The WSN had recently carried contents of a letter from Sardar Mann's
worthy won Emaan Singh Mann who had also attacked the KAC and taken
a stance that the party was certainly not rudderless because of the
incarceration of Mann and Bhai Daljit Singh but his thrust was
mainly on attacking Bhai Daljit Singh.
Incidentally, Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu has so far refrained from
issuing any statement particularly targetting Mann. Even when
informed of the party's decision, his words remained measured.
Sardar Mann himself had objected to Bhai Daljit Singh's hobnobbing
with the Khalsa Action Committee, even though the fact remains that
it was the KAC which had provided the much needed sharp edge to the
struggle against Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim at a time
when the Parkash Singh Badal government was acting with
pusillanimity.
Bhai Daljit Singh's profile grew rapidly during the fight against
the dera and he had to pay for his activities also as the Punjab
Police registered a case of sedition against him in connection with
a march carried out at the directions of the Akal Takht.
The KAC has now termed the expulsion of Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu from
SAD (Amritsar) as "most unfortunate', and has castigated Mann for
questioning the working of the committee. Bhai Daljit Singh had
refused to de-link himself from the KAC and participated in its
activities even after the directive of Mann, resulting in the
parting of ways. Now, the KAC has claimed that Bhai Daljit Singh
will lead the procession which will go to Ambala to witness court
proceedings on August 31 — the day on which Dera chief Gurmeet Ram
Rahim is slated be produced in CBI court.
The real reason behind the parting of ways has been the way the SAD
(Amritsar) was functioning. Much of the party, which derives
considerable strength from the Sikh Diaspora, was concentrated only
around the persona of Sardar Mann, but after the drubbing it got in
the last Assembly elections, many had seen a ray of hope as Sardar
Mann himself resigned and advocated a new leadership to give an
impetus to the party.
The resignation was followed by a behind-the-scenes tug of war
between those around Mann and a few other leaders who stressed their
regard for Mann but said a semblance of change in the style of
functioning of the party must be reflected at this juncture in
history. As the acolytes won the day and Sardar Mann assumed the
hotseat again, the Akali Dal ( Amritsar) seemed to have missed the
bus which would have taken it to a new destination of rejuvenated
organisational structure.
Significantly, party's spokesperson and general secretary Prof
Jagmohan Singh, known for his savvy ways with the media and
articulateness, had also resigned from his position and there seemed
to be little effort at retaining him. Prof Singh remained a
spokesperson for over five years and was known for his admiration of
Mann but was also reportedly a votary of giving a new thrust to
leadership and organisational structure.
There was a move to suggest that Mann himself should take up a
different role in the party and leave the day to day functioning of
the Dal to the new leadership but it seems those close to Mann did
not find favour the idea that there could be an alternative to their
leader. Many were viewing Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu as a natural
successor to Mann in
case the party were to decide upon a change but it seems the
established leadership had problems in accepting Bittu in an
elevated role.
Many Sikh affairs experts said they were dejected at the latest turn
of events as Sardar Mann and Bhai Daljit Singh were both men who
have made a lot of sacrifice for the community and irrespective of
the results in electoral politics, both enjoy a lot of respect among
the Sikhs.
29 August, 2007
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