Beadbi At Ramgarhia Gurdwara, Graham Street, Birmingham

[paman]

Dal singh raises a valid point - there are other problems, that are connected, however, if you try and suggest that they are the same, then i'm afraid it just comes across as obstructive (and i'm sure your not).

These people that own off licenses and the likes, its different problem. Whilst the Gurdwara movement is happening, its best to concentrate on that, then, and if, with Maharaj kirpa the sevadaars are successful, then we can all come together and strategise on how best to move forward with the problem you mentioned.

Remember, selling as an individual is a much more complex and nuanced difficulty than the outright consumption on Gurdwara property.

Rather than run before we walk or whatever the cliche is, how about we all concentrate on taking things one at a time and deal with the most pressing issues first?

Tav Parsad ji puts it perfectly, what happens in our Gurdwaray has a knock on effect and the results will filter down.

Back to the topic at hand, it looks promising that RST have agreed to a meeting, I'm sure that the people attending the meeting will be level headed and won't react to the half-truths and exaggerated claims that will fly at them. From my limited knowledge in my line of work, I know that it is generally not a common occurrence to have any suspected firebombings of cars, and roughing up of individuals (especially with a religious context) leaked to the mass media. So if the RST lot say this is happening, perhaps the Satkaar team ought to ask for the Crime Report Reference Number (every case with the police is given one of these). This way, Satkaar can promise to assist the investigation and if any news is uncovered they can report it using this reference number. Call the RST out, lets see how many "crimes" have really been committed against them. Its not an outlandish request, its a simple appeal to help catch whoever supposedly behind these and if anything, harming the Satkaar movement by hiding behind the name.

I've heard that the Sikh Channel have strong links with the RST so it will be especially interesting to hear how neutral the debate is, whether its simply a chance for the RST committee to throw out allegations (that may be defamatory in nature - Satkaar's legal team should be watching for this) or whether they allow a full discussion, without tainting it. The other question is whether certain 'sensitive' topics will be addressed, the ones Sarbha Panjab ji has mentioned for example, and more importantly, whether they will be shown in the final, edited version that airs on Saturday evening....

[SinghWarrior]

What are the committee playing at? 7 weeks to come back on the question of whether they accept Akaal Takht's Sandesh? Also, the fact they're not willing to meet the sangat - seriously, I think they're taking the mick with the sangat and aren't taking the whole beadbi issue seriously.

[dalsingh101]

You guys are right, one step at a time.

[GurSa Singh]

Did anyone attend the Panth Time recording last night at RST Birmingham? Would be interesting to get some feedback on the kind of "mood" the committee portrayed on camera and if the issue of the beadbi allowed in the Hall was actually discussed on the show.

I suppose the rest of us will have to watch tonight's broadcast on Sikh Channel at 7pm to find out. Forget the X Factor final or Strictly Come Dancing!

[IWannaBeAGurSikh]

My masi and masard are sewadars at this gurughar. The committee are spreading some false propoganda regarding this issue. They are making out that they have recieved threats from militant sikh groups and are being victimised because of caste. They are not clearly communicating the issue to the local sangat. The local sangat who attend rst are being led to believe that they are under threat from outside forces. I think satkaar need to clarify that these claims are false and the committee are just atempting to deflect the beadbi of mjsr hall by scaremongering.

[GurSa Singh]

If these threats are "true" then surely the committee should be reporting this to the Police.

The committee seem to be attempting to portray a link to some criminal damage which took place a few years ago. I think it is a ploy to deflect attention from the real issue. Just like Dr Bhogal does on Sikh Channel by continually pushing the whole corruption of Sri Akal Takht Sahib as a reason to not accept Gurmat principles (via an issued Hukumnama, Sandesh). Even the SCUK special show on Saturday evening on the Sikh Channel showed a committee representative of RST attempting to claim Akal Takht Maryada may isolate some Sikh communities.

[Gupt1984]

Did panth time still go ahead at this gurdwara? Saturday panth time was about the newly elected Sikh council.

[TavPrasad Singh]

Spreading rumours is all RST can do now. The only thing stopping them to shut down the party hall is their own ego and reluctance to accept their wrong doing.

People like Bhogal come on Sikh Channel talking about Khalistan, they can't even create Khalistan in the Gurdwara where they are General Secretary!

[Bundha]

What we should do is band together and contribute maybe £20 each and hire out the hall on Graham Street on a weekend.

Instead of a party we could have kirtan and we could have speaches and invite local press and radio, maybe even Sikh Channel , then we can highlight what is going on while we are in the hall in question , and since we have hired the hall properly we cannot be thrown out by the committee.

[amzsingh]

Gurfateh Jee,

I heard that the 'Panth time' at the hall was a wasn't true, that there was a fake text going around. Nothing happened, there was no panth time there. Is this true??