peaceful

Please send this to all media. The issue of whether meat and alcohol should be served at the hall which is next to and adjoining Gurdwara hall is one that has divided the local sangat in Grays. During a committee meeting, of the 14 members 10 voted against meat and alcohol being served on the Gurdwara premises. However the other 4 members managed to send out letters to the local sangat calling on them to attend the Gurdwara Sahib on Sunday 30th May for an open vote in the sangat. Three spokespeople stood and spoke against having meat and alcohol on Gurdwara premises. They put forward a compelling case based on Gurmat and quoted Gurbani, Rehitnamas and the Akal Takht Sandesh specifically banning party halls on Gurdwara grounds. It would at this point be conventional in a debate to hear the views of those in favour of the hall. However they chose not to speak and instead went straight to a vote. They had rallied the support of family and friends, so the arguments were irrelevant. When those present were asked to stand if they were in favour of the hall a handful stood up. Even those who had been called on the back of family allegiances seemed to have conscience attack and remained seated. At this point a gentleman with a turban and trimmed beard started pointing at people and instructing them to stand up. He was visibly annoyed by their reluctance. Within a few seconds most of the sangat were on their feet and the decision was made. There were 8 Amritdhari Singhs from outside Grays who were present in the sangat and witnessed this. At this point one of these Singhs stood up and respectfully asked to hear the basis upon which these people had voted for meat, alcohol and tobacco on Gurdwara premises. Then three people spoke on stage about the virtues of having parties in the hall. The arguments were based largely on the facts that the hall would provide income for the Gurdwara from hiring charges; and as one spokesman said 90% of the local sangat (including himself) drink and eat meat so why should they not do so at the Gurdwara? One man stood in the sangat and pulled out a pre printed list of who should be on the new committee for the party hall. This seemed to come as no surprise to the majority of those present who agreed. The new four member committee was set up. At this point the 8 Singhs stood up and quietly started walking out of the Darbar hall. Despite their shock and disbelief at the events that at had transpired before their eyes their foremost concern was to respect the sanctity of Darbar Sahib and leave respectfully and quietly. However a handful of men started to goad them and told them to sit back down whilst laughing at the Singhs. The Singhs still quietly proceeded to leave. Then without warning one woman stood and pounced on the last Singh. She hit him repeatedly (about 8 times) over the head. He kept his hands by his side at all times whilst trying to escape. Other women joined in and started to grab other Singhs. At this point other Singhs who were at the door to leave Darbar Sahib returned to calm the situation. By now the whole sangat were on their feet and some of the men started to push Singhs and encouraged the women to continue to hit the Singhs. At this point two or three women stepped in to stop the others and the Singhs managed to get away. One Singh had to visit hospital with suspected concussion. The trauma of being attacked so viciously in the Darbar hall has traumatised many of the Singhs. One who has just kept his kes (hair) recently is inconsolable and will certainly need some sort of emotional counselling.