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Is SAD
(Mann) finished in the West?
Jasvir Singh
In
the last ten months the number of those who support Simranjit Singh
Mann and belong to SAD (Mann) in the UK, mainland Europe, Canada and
the USA have naturally been on the decline. First was the total
humiliation at the last elections in February, followed by the
inevitable resignation of Simranjit Singh Mann. However, defying
all logic this was subsequently reversed, taking away significantly
from his reputation and virtually making him vulnerable to the
charge that he cannot be taken as a serious politician.
Many realised at this stage that there needed to be a reality check
and long term thinking and planning as the decline of SAD (Mann)
would continue. The fiasco of the SAD (Mann) leadership coincided
with Daljit Singh Bittu demonstrating his political maturity in his
joint-Convenorship role in the Khalsa Action Committee.
Simranjit Singh Mann’s reaction to the growing threat to his
leadership meant the writing was on the wall about his political
future. The emergence of Daljit Singh Bittu was also of great
concern to those around Simranjit Singh Mann that knew they would
lose what little position they had.
The
split between SAD (Mann) and SAD (Amritsar) led by a temporary new
five-member leadership is now almost complete. Many have deserted
Simranjit Singh Mann in Punjab and this is expected to continue
while a new constitution for SAD (A) is developed by April 2008.
But
what is the future for SAD (Mann) in the West? In the run up to the
SAD (A) General Assembly in Alamghir on 30 November those who
previously associated with Simranjit Singh Mann in many countries –
UK, France, USA, Canada etc. and many others interested in ensuring
a better Sikh leadership in Punjab have come out in support of a
move away from a leadership based on dictatorship or a family
enterprise to a five-member leadership, new constitution and proper
membership and accountability in Punjab.
SAD
(Mann) in the West is all but finished as an entity that matters.
The handful of individuals in the West that continue to support
Simranjit Singh Mann will be marginalised and follow him to the
political wilderness. Sikhs in the UK, USA and Canada where more
than half a million Sikhs live in each country are critical to
determining the future structure or support mechanism for the new
SAD (A) set up. A consensus is being developed amongst like-minded
and leading Sikh organisations in these three countries and the
smaller number of Sikhs in mainland Europe.
It
is hoped that at the time of the next World Sikh Summit in the USA
in early February 2008 the plan is to not only provide a clear
vision and roadmap for the establishment of an independent sovereign
Sikh State, but to clarify the respective role of the expected new
SAD (A) set up in Punjab and its links with like-minded and leading
Sikh organisations in the West.
However, given the demise of SAD (Mann) in the West, it still leaves
the question as to whether it is proper to have an SAD (Amritsar)
structure in the West? Many are of the view that the changes in SAD
(A) in Punjab must be matched with a new approach to its
representation in the West. The reality in the West must be
accepted – that there are already a number of leading independent
Sikh organisations – Sikh Federation (UK), Sikh Youth of America,
America Gurdwara Prabandakh Committee, United Sikh Federation etc.
that have their own priorities and areas of work, but are likely to
associate and support the new SAD (A) set up if it remains issue
based and accountable.
The
initial advice to the new SAD (A) set up is therefore to confine the
new structure and membership to Punjab, but by April 2008 to
formalise the indirect link with independent Sikh organisations in
the West, including those that have the establishment of an
independent sovereign Sikh State not only as a specific objective,
but are taking practical steps to bring this about through peaceful
and democratic means by lobbying and influencing foreign
governments.
5
December, 2007
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