Azaad

The Punjab Congress has fired another salvo at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal saying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “better deserved” the Panth Rattan Faqr-e-qaum award that was given to the SAD leader. Qila Raipur MLA Jassi Khangura, in a letter to the Akal Takht Jathedar, said, “No Sikh family has benefitted financially more from Punjab politics than the Badal family. When Punjab was passing through the terrorism phase, Badal sent his son Sukhbir to California so that he could stay safely there, something that proves he always puts his family first. The Sikh religion and the interests of Punjab are not his priorities.” Khangura alleged that not only had Badal controlled the SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) for far longer period than any other Sikh, but had also undermined it in the process. “It is no longer the independent body that it used to be. If the SGPC still decides to confer the award on Badal, I would ask him that before receiving the award he must visit the Akal Takht and swear he has never made money by corruption means.”

Paying tributes to martyrs, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal dedicated the Wada Ghallughara Kup Rohira Memorial to humanity at an impressive ceremony held here today and announced the decision to construct similar memorials to revive the sequence of events related to the freedom movement. The proposed memorial would be constructed at a cost of Rs 300-Rs 400 crore in the Doaba region. The memorial inaugurated today comprises a 110-ft tall tower and as many as six buildings spread over 10.7 acres of land. It has been constructed at a cost of Rs 20 crore in the memory of 35,000 Sikhs who were massacred by Ahmed Shah Abdali, the Pathan invader, on February 5, 1762. It was probably the first time that a majority of the speakers refrained from giving a political tinge to their speeches but appreciated role of the Chief Minister in reviving the cultural heritage and Sikh history through memorials. Admitting that the memorials should have been constructed long ago, Badal regretted that only a fraction of Punjabis knew facts related to the Wada Ghallughara till now. Rebutting allegations that his party had tried to harness political mileage by constructing and inaugurating a chain of memorials recently, Badal maintained that the government had kept nationalism above politics during these functions.

Whatever the Jathedar has said is heavily influenced by Badal. But it is a sort of catch 22 situation. Manpreet Badal had once taken Amrit so technically he can be summoned to Sri Akal Takhat Sahib for going against the Sikh Tenets. However, if the Jathedar Sahib does summon Manpreet Badal then that opens up a whole floodgate of other leaders who will have to be summoned for the same violation. And that includes Parkash Badal, Sukhbir Badal, Gurdev Badal, Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Harsimrat Badal, Bikram Majithia and Nirmal Kahlon all members of the Core committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). So rather than summon Manpreet and risk losing all his core committee, Badal has tried to play on the Sikh emotions and threatened Manpreet with boycott of the Sikhs via the Akal Takhat.

An incident of an SGPC ‘sewadar’ reportedly demanding a bribe to facilitate “darshan” at the Golden Temple has come to light. The alleged incident occurred with the wife and the brother-in-law of Amritsar Hotel and Restaurant Association general secretary APS Chatha a couple of days back. Chatha said his wife Harveen Kaur and brother-in-law Gurpreet Singh Anand visited the Golden Temple around 2.30 pm on November 26. “On reaching the shrine, they noticed long queues of devotees in front of it, after which they decided to pay obeisance at the Akal Takht and leave. When they were leaving the premises, they came across a ‘sewadar’ near Baba Budhajee Beri and inquired from him as to when the rush of pilgrims would decline.” Chatha said the ‘sewadar’ told them that if they wanted to pay obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum, it was not a problem and that he would facilitate it. When Gurpreet asked him how he will manage it, he said they will have to do “sewa”, which they took as doing community service like cleaning utensils etc. They agreed and the ‘sewadar’ took them to the shrine from the lane where one gets ‘parshad’ on exit. He himself stood there while sending with them one of his associates. On their return, when Gurpreet asked him what “sewa” they need to do, the ‘sewadar’ allegedly demanded Rs 1,000 from him, said Chatha, adding that both his wife and brother-in-law were shocked to hear that. He said they handed him over a Rs-100 note and left the place. He said the incident had hurt him as he felt that instances like these would portray a poor image before the tourists visiting the shrine. SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh said though the matter had not come to their notice, still if the aggrieved persons could identify the ‘sewadar,’ they would initiate strict action against him.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal dedicated the Chhota Ghallughara Kahnuwan Chamb Memorial to the people at an impressive ceremony here today. The memorial, which comprises a 100-ft tall minar (tower) and a couple of small buildings, has been constructed at a cost of Rs 11.59 crore in memory of 7,000 Sikh warriors who were persecuted and killed by Lakhpat Rai, a revenue minister in the Mughal government, in 1746. Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan conducted the proceedings from the dais but it was the erudite Cabinet Minister Balbir Singh Bath who stole the limelight. In his brief but educative speech, he told the gathering about the significance of the Chhota Ghallughara in Sikh history. Unlike others, he refrained from giving a political tinge to his speech and concentrated on the importance of constructing such memorials “so that future generations can know of the feats and deeds of gallant Sikh wariors.” The only religious leader who was allowed to speak was Baba Kashmira Singh who runs the 500-bed SGL Charitable Hospital at Jalandhar. The Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues, MLAs and MPs stood up in reverence as the Baba finished his speech which received a thunderous applause from the audience. Thereafter, it was back to politics with former minister Master Mohan Lal urging SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar to pass a resolution in the SGPC House, conferring the “Faqr-e-Sikh Quam” (Pride of the Sikhs) award on the Chief Minister for his “innumerable achievements and for some historic decisions, including the construction of memorials.” To this, the Chief Minister said: “It is destiny that these memorials have come up during my tenure as CM.” A 500-member delegation, which arrived from the Golden Temple, Amritsar, two days ago, served langar to the congregation. At least 24 Ministers and MLAs attended the function. The BJP was represented by Swaran Salaria and Master Mohan Lal. The Kahnuwan memorial (see picture) consists of a 100-ft tall minar and a couple of small buildings It has been constructed at a cost of Rs 11.59 crore in the memory of 7,000 Sikh warriors These warriors were persecuted by Lakhpat Rai, revenue minister in the Mughal government, in 1746

After an experiment in social engineering, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) seems to have changed its strategy and has now decided to take a calculated risk by re-adopting the “Panthic agenda”. At the same time, it has decided to keep distance from radical elements within the Sikh community. The spree of inaugurations of Sikh historical monuments at the <banned word filter activated> end of the SAD-BJP government term clearly aims at garnering Sikh votes. The brain behind the move seems to be that of SAD patron and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Being a veteran politician, Badal Senior, it seems, has sensed the gradual erosion of the Sikh vote bank of his traditionally “Panthic” party over the years. The alliance of the SAD with the BJP has further diluted this vote bank. Further, the underlying tension between the SAD and the BJP has made it necessary for the Akalis to consolidate their own position without banking on the BJP. In turning the Khalsa Heritage Centre at Anandpur Sahib into a reality, along with dedicating three other monuments (in memory of Banda Bhadur at Chappar Chiri and the two Sikh massacres — small and big ghallugharas at Kanuwan and Kuper Heedha), Badal has a twin agenda. The prime aim is to garner support for his party from every possible quarter so as to retain power, with or without the BJP. Secondly, Badal wants to establish himself in the revered league of Akali leaders as Master Tara Singh and Sant Fateh Singh. The move to confer the titles of ‘Panth Ratan Fakr-e-Qaum’ upon Chief Minister Badal by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh aims at catapulting the Badal Senior into the galaxy of famous Akali leaders. As the Akal Takht Jathedar is appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC) where the SAD has 157 out of 170 elected members, the move is being viewed nothing more than an act of sycophancy. At the beginning of the current term of the SAD-BJP government, Badal was conferred upon with the title of “Sant-Siaasatdaan” (Saint-Politician). Gurcharan Singh Tohra, an astute politician and many-time president of the SGPC, was posthumously given the title of “Panth Rattan.” He was never a part of the government. During the 2002-2007 Congress regime, Captain Amarinder Singh had managed to woo a large number of rural voters by streamlining procurement and series of other administrative measures. Since, the Congress does not want to lose its vote bank, built in rural areas, it has hit out at the SAD’s re-calibrated pre-poll strategy of reviving the “Panthic agenda”. As a counter reaction, the SAD has raked up issues like “Operation Bluestar.” The inauguration of the Sikh historical memorials has also brought forth the increasing divide between the SAD and the BJP. During LK Advani’s Jan Chetna Yatra, the SAD made it a point to distance itself from the BJP leader for his controversial comments on Operation Bluestar in his book, ‘My Country My Life.’ Though BJP president Nitin Gadkari was present for the opening of the Khalsa Heritage Complex, the Punjab BJP president was “missing”. The Akali strategy To check gradual erosion of the Sikh vote bank: The spree of inaugurations of Sikh historical monuments, at the <banned word filter activated> end of the SAD-BJP government, clearly aims at garnering Sikh votes To reduce dependence on the BJP, its alliance partner: The underlying tension between the alliance partners has made it necessary for the Akalis to consolidate their position without banking on the BJP To keep distance from radical elements within the community and gain support from every possible quarter to retain power

Various Sikh organisations have reacted sharply to the Akal Takht Jathedar's announcement to award Panth Rattan Faqr-e-Qaum to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at Anandpur Sahib yesterday. Former SGPC secretary and Shiromani Panthic Council chairman Manjeet Singh Calcutta, in a release issued here today, termed the announcement as "unprincipled" and said among Sikhs such an award was given to an individual for his services to the "Panth". He said there are several deserving Sikhs like Bhai Veer Singh, Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha, Prof Jodh Singh and Prof Mohan Singh who have served the religion immensely. "If Badal has been given this award merely for raising memorials, then there are many Babas who have done a great contribution with their kar sewa," he said. DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna said the five Sikh high priests should tell the community as to why they should feel proud of Badal. "Should we be proud of the fact that Sikhism is on the decline in Punjab under the SAD-ruled SGPC?" said Sarna. "Golden Temple's Head Granthi Bhai Jaswinder Singh himself stated at Anandpur Sahib yesterday that 90 to 95 per cent Sikh youth in Punjab had become 'patit' (apostate)." Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh said the announcement had led to mockery of the significance of the award. Addressing the media in Hoshiarpur, he said, “Badal is not Faqr-e-quam (pride of the community) but fiqr-e-quam (headache for the community).” SAD (1920) senior vice-president Raghubir Singh Rajasansi said the Jathedar should review the matter. Meanwhile, Khalra Mission Organisation chief Harmandeep Singh Sarhali said the Sikh Panth would never acknowledge the award bestowed upon the CM as it was against the teachings of Sikh Gurus. He accused Badal of "rewarding the officials who worked against Sikh interests in the 1984 Operation Bluestar and the subsequent turbulent days of militancy in Punjab". BJP for Nobel to CM BJP leader Tikshan Sud has sought Nobel Peace Prize for Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for his “service to humanity as well as world peace during his political career”.

A Delhi Court today sent Harvinder Singh, the attacker of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, to 14 days’ judicial custody. The court announced this decision while a large number of Pawar’s supporters demonstrated at the court premises. Harvinder was remanded to the judicial custody after the police pleaded that he has become "a threat to the society" and should not be released. The attacker was arrested by the security guards just after he slapped Pawar he was coming out of a literary function at a public auditorium on Parliament Street. Harvinder was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Jasjeet Kaur in the Patiala House Court, who passed the order saying that Harvinder be kept in judicial custody till December 9. Activists of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) gathered at the court premises in the morning with an intention to take revenge from Harvinder. While he was coming out of the court room, they attempted to attack him, but the security personnel made a human chain around him and foiled their attempt. Over 30 NCP workers led by Dinesh Prasad Joshi, heads of the Haryana unit of the NCP, later shouted slogans like “Sharad Pawar zindabad”. They also tried to block traffic at the India Gate, but they were dispersed by the police.

After a successful political innings, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will now attain a place among the Akalis, who have won recognition from their community, with the Akal Takht jathedar announcing that he would be honoured with the title Panth Rattan Fakr-e-Qaum. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh made this announcement at the public meeting held here following the successful launch of the Virasat-e-Khalsa memorial. The jathedar said this decision had been taken following a meeting of all five jathedars of the five Sikh ‘takhts’. He said there was a consensus that Badal’s contribution to the Sikh community was unique and deserved due recognition. The title will be bestowed on the CM on December 5 at the Akal Takht in the Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar. The rally also saw the Chief Minister becoming emotional, saying a new wonder of the world had been created for the next generation. He also described the occasion as humbling, saying such a mammoth task would not have been achieved without the blessings of the Almighty. Claiming the heritage museum had been dedicated to humanity, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had principally agreed to inaugurate the complex following a request from him. Badal said the state Congress leadership, however, dissuaded the PM from participating in today’s historic function. He said personal invitations had been extended to all Congress legislators and MPs, but they seemed to have decided to boycott the function. Badal said that it was the duty of the government to construct such memorials and the Virasat-e-Khalsa was a step in this direction. He said that his government would also dedicate to people the Chhota Ghallughara Memorial in Khanuwan Chamb in Gurdaspur district, the Wadda Ghallughara at Kup Rahera in Sangrur distrct and the Fateh Burj as Baba Bandha Singh War Memorial at Chhapar Chiri in Mohali district on November 28, 29 and 30, respectively. SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the government was committed to construct memorials commemorating the supreme sacrifices of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the Sikh panth. He said, “Nations, who forget their martyrs, are bound to vanish with the passage of time.” He also appealed to the youth to take a vow to abstain from the menace of drugs to ensure harmonious and prosperous Punjab. BJP president Nitin Gadkari, while appreciating the Chief Minister’s initiative in establishing the Virasat-e-Khalsa, said it was unfortunate that the Prime Minister did not attend the function despite being invited by Badal personally.

The Akalis today basked in the reflected glory of the steel petal roof of the Virasat-e-Khalsa that was dedicated to humanity in a ceremony that encompassed all faiths, but was essentially rooted in Sikh culture and tradition. Badal, flanked by Akal Takth Jathedar Gurbachan Singh and the Sikh high priests, pressed a button to unveil the museum’s inaugural plaque as the Virasat-e-Khalsa monument seemingly rose out of the hillocks in the background. Nihangs astride horses and on foot along with ‘gatka’ troupes dressed in blue with saffron colour turbans dotted the hillocks and enhanced the backdrop. Asha Bhosle started the function with a soulful rendition of the ‘shabad’ ‘Mera Sahib, Mera Sahib’ followed by Punjabi singer Jaspinder Narula’s ‘Deh Shiva // Mohe’. The programme ended with an ‘ardas’ by Takth Sri Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Tarlochan Singh. A glider then showered confetti and flower petals on the assembled congregation that had BJP president Nitin Gadkari, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal among others. This was followed by a fireworks display. The inauguration clearly belonged to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The veteran leader has achieved the unique distinction of being behind the creation of the Rs 300 crore monument destined to take the Sikh religious experience to a new level. Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh set the tone for the function by reminding the congregation that the museum was the result of one man’s dream. With elections in mind, he prayed to the lord to give Badal more time to complete all remaining tasks of the Sikh community. The Chief Minister recollected his chance visit to the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem and a meeting with its Boston-based Israeli architect Moshe Safdie. Calling the museum a culmination of his life tasks, Badal said, “I am satisfied that I have managed to fulfill the tasks set for me by the Guru. Sacha padshah mehr karo, asin hor vi sewa kar sakiye (God bless us so we can serve the people even better).” The Virasat-e-Khalsa stands at a site that is the birthplace of the Khalsa Panth. The second holiest Sikh shrine, Takht Keshgarh Sahib, is located here. It was here in 1699, on the day of Baisakhi, that 10th Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth and baptised the 'Panj Piaras'. Conceived as a repository of the rich heritage of the Khalsa, showcasing the history and culture of Punjab, the heritage complex has been built on a 100-acre site to emphasise the eternal message of the Sikh gurus. The Chief Minister said that a never-before miracle in Sikh history would take place in the coming week — the inauguration of three more memorials to commemorate the two genocides that occurred in Sikh history and the victory of Sirhind by Banda Singh Bahadur. Earlier, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said he had been in the construction business for long, but was impressed by the scale of the monument. Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said today’s ‘sankriti’ had been saved by the Khalsa Panth and that the 120-crore people of the country would be indebted to the Sikh Panth for the sacrifices made by its gurus in the cause of humanity. Also present were Swami Madhav Ashram Shankra-charya Bapu Asa Ram, Pakistani dignitaries Imran Masood (ex-education minister) and Rai Azizullah (ex-MP), former Canadian MPs Ruby Dhalla and Gurbax Malhi, besides Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and other senior SAD and BJP leaders.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has said action will be taken against any Sikh leader visiting Dera Sacha Sauda. “If we receive a complaint and proof to substantiate it, we will discuss the matter in the meeting of Sikh high priests and act as per the religious code of conduct,” he said. Meanwhile, even as Sikh organisations have been seeking action against PPP chief Manpreet Badal for visiting Dera Sacha Sauda recently, a peep into the past reveals that the Akal Takht has never acted against any Sikh politician visiting the dera, although it is a violation of its edict dated May 20, 2007, which directs the Sikhs to socially boycott the dera. Among the leaders who had visited the dera in the past include PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh, Gurcharan Singh Galib (Ludhiana), Sher Singh Ghubhaiya (Ferozepur), Raninder Singh (Bathinda), Jagmeet Singh Brar (Ferozepur), and Sukhvinder Singh Danny (Faridkot). Of these, Ghubaiya is the SAD MP from Ferozepur while the remaining leaders belong to the Congress. The SAD also faced the allegation of ensuring covert support of the dera before fielding Harsimrat Kaur from the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat. Earlier, senior vice-president of SAD Gurdev Badal had said, “It is neither wrong to visit Dera Sacha Sauda nor an aberration to seek votes from this sect which has a large following”.

While the process for the constitution of the new SGPC House has begun, the ruling SAD has been keeping the cards close to its chest regarding the co-option of members. SAD secretary Daljeet Singh Cheema said, “We have not yet decided any names for co-option and a meeting to finalise these names would be conducted a day or two prior to December 5 when the House is to be constituted.” Cheema denied any comment when asked whether the party would stick to the old guard or there will be new faces. He, however, hinted that senior SAD leaders like Kirpal Singh Badungar and Raghujit Singh Virk would be retained. Badungar held the top SGPC post between 2001 and 2003 and was nominated twice in the past (1996 and 2004). It would be third nomination in a row for Virk as well after 1996 and 2004. He held the post of senior vice-president in the last House. Meanwhile, the Amritsar administration has started the preparations for the first meeting of the new SGPC House. Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said the venue of the meeting will be decided in consultation with the Sikh Gurdwara Election Commission. The SGPC, however, hinted at the possibility of the same being conducted at Bhai Gurdas Hall, which is on the way to the Golden Temple. The SGPC House has a total of 191 members, of which 170 are elected members. There are 15 nominated members, out of which five are from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh while the remaining 10 come from the rest of the country. Apart from these, the jathedars of all five Takhts and the head granthi of Harmandar Sahib, Amritsar, are also the members of the House. ABOUT CO-OPTION Of the total 191 members in the SGPC House, 170 are elected representatives 15 members are nominated to the House through co-option mode Of these, five are from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh The rest (10) come from other parts of the country

Even as political parties condemned in one voice the incident in which the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was slapped this afternoon by Harvinder Singh, a transporter in his thirties, at the New Delhi Municipal Corporation’s (NDMC) Convention Centre here, Anna Hazare raised eyebrows with his first reaction in which he said, “Only one slap?” Harvinder had attacked former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram in the court compound four days ago. Hazare soon realised his gaffe and sought to recover lost ground by describing it as a slap on democracy. But as the news spread and TV channels telecast the ‘slap’, NCP workers in Maharashtra hit the streets to protest and tried to enforce bandhs in many parts of the state. Road blocks were put up and blockades came up on railway tracks. Both Pawar and daughter Supriya Sule, MP, appealed to their supporters to maintain peace and to refrain from reacting. “Let us forget and move ahead,” said Sule while Pawar, the seasoned politician, refused to call it a breach of security because he had no security, he pointed out. However, the incident occurred in the presence of his personal security officer and officials from Group Four Private Security Organisation. Harvinder broke into a group of officials and journalists before landing a tight slap on Pawar. He was shouting slogans against corruption and price rise. As he was overpowered, the assailant tried to commit suicide by slitting his wrist with a “kirpan” hidden in his pocket. Harvinder was arrested on charges of deterring a public servant from discharge of his duty, attempt to commit suicide, punishment for voluntarily causing hurt and punishment for criminal intimidation. The police said that he would be presented before the Patiala House Court tomorrow. A police official said, “Harvinder is probably mentally disturbed. He is undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder at a private clinic run at Patel Nagar.” Meanwhile, the Congress blamed BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, who had warned of rising public anger and possibility of violence, of inciting the people. BJP and its allies condemned the act and advised the government to be sensitive to inflation.

Harvinder broke into a group of officials and journalists before landing a tight slap on Pawar. He was shouting slogans against corruption and price rise. As he was overpowered, the assailant tried to commit suicide by slitting his wrist with a “kirpan” hidden in his pocket. Harvinder was arrested on charges of deterring a public servant from discharge of his duty, attempt to commit suicide, punishment for voluntarily causing hurt and punishment for criminal intimidation. The police said that he would be presented before the Patiala House Court tomorrow. A police official said, “Harvinder is probably mentally disturbed. He is undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder at a private clinic run at Patel Nagar.”

he is the same guy who slapped Sukhram...he openly declared that he has attacked others before and will continue to do so...

With an eye on the next year’s Assembly elections in Punjab, the Ministry of Law and Justice has prepared a Cabinet note proposing that the Sikh marriages be registered under the Anand Karaj (Marriage) Act. Law Minister Salman Khurshid said his ministry would proceed further on completion of necessary inter-ministerial consultations, which were already underway. As an alternative, he said, the Law Ministry had also suggested the setting up of a Central Register of Marriages, similar to the existing law on the registration of births and deaths, which would be applicable to the entire country and cover all communities under different codes. Khurshid said both these proposals would be sent to the Cabinet, which would take a final view on them. There were protests by political parties of Punjab during the monsoon session of Parliament after the government announced that it did not favour the amendment of the Anand Karaj Act for the registration of Sikh marriages. At present, the Sikhs have to get their marriages registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, while Parsis, Christians and Muslims have separate laws for the registration of their marriages. Although the Parliamentary standing committee had unanimously approved the necessary amendment, the Centre had vetoed the Sikh community’s demand on the plea that this could lead to similar demands from other communities covered under the Hindu Marriage Act. The government was, however forced to reverse its earlier position as it realised that it could snowball into a political controversy and provide a potent issue to the rival Akalis in the forthcoming Punjab elections. Former Punjab Chief Minister and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Amarinder Singh had led a delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and also met Khurshid to apprise them of the adverse political fallout of the Centre’s decision. A delegation of Akali Dal MPs had also called on Khurshid to press for their long-standing demand for a separate law for the registration of Sikh marriages. This was followed by a series of meetings between the Prime Minister, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Khurshid. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni is also learnt to have urged her Cabinet colleagues against going ahead with the decision.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is set to play the Sikh card in the runup to the assembly elections, taking credit for the setting up of the Khalsa Heritage Centre at Anandpur Sahib, which will be inaugurated on November 25. Three more Sikh heritage sites will also be opened this month. The SAD hopes to be seen as a party which has redeemed the Sikh pride by creating world-class memorials. Former Congress Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had also followed a Panthic agenda by erecting five gates at Fatehgarh Sahib besides the Minar-e- Mukti at Muktsar to commemorate events in Sikh history. The move had its effect with the Jats opting for the Congress in the Malwa region. The SAD is pulling out all stops to make the inauguration of the Heritage Complex a grand success. It will hold a public rally here in which it expects an attendance of more than one lakh. DS Guru, Principal Secretary to the CM, when questioned whether the SAD was playing the Sikh card, said the CM considered the setting up of the Heritage Complex and the other memorials as a “sacred” duty. The SAD has hired 2,500 buses to ferry people here for the inauguration ceremony. Sources said it is only in the past six months that work on the first phase of the project was streamlined towards completion. They said only the shell of the building could have been inaugurated by Capt Amarinder Singh during his stint as CM five years back. Renowned film producer Bobby Bedi, who is behind the audio-visual presentation in the museum, says till two years back the building did not even have power. The sources said the SAD would use the occasion to strike out at the Pradesh Congress for “preventing Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh from inaugurating the museum. The anti-Congress theme would be repeated at the opening of the Chotta Ghallughara (genocide) memorial on November 28 at Kahnuwan Chhamb in Gurdaspur, the Vadda Ghallughara memorial at Malerkotla on November 29 and the memorial at Chappar Chiri on November 30.

The Lok Bhalai Party of Balwant Singh Ramoowalia merged with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) at a rally near Detwal village in the district today. Ramoowalia, who had quit the Akali Dal on November 27, 1989, called it a homecoming. He was welcomed back into the party fold by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. Ramoowalia said he had always had great regard for the Badal family. “I have taken this decision after a lot of thought and discussions with my party workers. I am not a greenhorn in politics and neither are the Badals,” Ramoowalia said. Sukhbir said that all LBP workers would be “duly adjusted” in the party setup. The Chief Minister said the merger would not only help in defeating the “anti-Punjab and anti-development” Congress, but also ensure that Punjab had a sustained growth. He said Ramoowalia would play a big role in the party. Later at a press conference, when asked whether Ramoowalia or any of his supporters would be candidates for the coming elections, Badal said it was premature to make any statement. “We will decide on such matters in days to come but Ramoowalia will certainly hold a key position in the party,” he added. ON THE SIDELINES l BS Ramoowalia got emotional several times while addressing the gathering, swearing on his family that he would continue to work for the rights of Punjabis settled abroad l Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal provoked laughter when he told the audience that popular singer Harbhajan Mann ( son-in-law of Ramoowalia’s elder brother) would come free with the Lok Bhalai Party chief (ek naal ek muft) l Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said Ramoowalia’s ‘jawai’ (son-in-law) was now his ‘jawai’ and that the Punjabis knew that they had to take care of their ‘jawais’ l Badal left the audience guessing when he said nowadays no child listens to his father. He said ‘pehla putt jammde si, par hun peo jammde ne’

As it awaits to be inaugurated on Friday, the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex today provided a spectacular and breathtaking preview. The Boston-based designer of the complex, architect and urban planner Moshe Safdie, who is known for creating the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem, has already arrived for the inauguration and so has Bobby Bedi, the filmmaker who has contributed audiovisuals. The first phase of the complex has taken 13 years and approximately Rs 360 crore to complete. The classy complex, which is expected to draw international attention, has come up in rugged surroundings but water bodies of extraordinary beauty, which reflect the surrounding hillocks, lend the complex an astonishing degree of serenity. Said to be the largest contemporary heritage complex ever conceived in India, it provides a delightful audio-visual experience unlike anything one has seen in Indian museums. The Boat Building of the complex houses the largest hand-painted mural in the world, which uses a staggering 24,000 metres of fibre optics to illuminate it to depict Diwali. The complex deals with the evolution of the Sikh religion, from the birth of Guru Nanak to the establishment of the Granth Sahib as the last Guru. Only 15 out of the 25 galleries planned, however, will be thrown open to the public. The 15 galleries cover 650,000 square feet. The Boat Building, named because of its shape, provides an awesome panaromic vision of daily life in Punjab. With the help of sound, music and other visual manipulations, the entire cycle of a year is recreated within a span of just eight minutes. The vibrant colours then give way to a subdued, star studded night with a tower of light at the centre, which symbolises the emergence of ‘Ek Onkar’, illuminated, pure and eternal. From here begins the journey of the evolution of the Panth with the birth of Guru Nanak Dev. For the remaining galleries, visitors can opt for audio commentary in Punjabi, Hindi or English, rendered by Divya Dutta, Surjeet Pattar and Kabeer Bedi respectively. The first five galleries depict the spiritual aspects of the Panth by making use of research material, stories and technology. Amar Behl has made use of Phulkari, miniature art, puppets from Andhra Pradesh, durris from Mirzapur and embroideries and applique work from Chamba while Bobby Bedi has created the animation films on the birth of Guru Nanak Dev, the siege of Anandpur Sahib and the Harmandir Sahib. In the ‘Five Crescent Building’, the tone and tenor of the colours and sound becomes more militant and depict the struggle and sacrifices made by the last five Gurus to establish the Panth. The second phase of the complex, for which work is still going on, is expected to show the growth of Khalsa over the last 300 years, culminating in the partition of the country.

the guy was from an organisation called SWAT (Sikh Welfare Awareness Team). He in my opinion turned the whole tide against us. Fair enough, he was making his opinions known, but all that created was that it was, how Nihal described it, a Sikh vs Sikh argument. The guest on the show representing the SIkh point of view was a lady called by Baldeep Kaur who was very good. She held her own and was able to communicate effectively. She did get stuck in a few tight corners but she overall represented well. And if you listen back to the programme which I'm sure will be on BBC iplayer soon, there was 2 Muslim guys who phoned in to. One called Immy who said if Sikhs wish to wear the Kirpan then they should be allowed. The other muslim caller argued that it was all a simple matter as all a Sikh had to do was take the Kirpan off, put it in a safety locker and collect it on the way back. Baldeep corrected this viewpoint and said that the Kirpan is to be never taken off by a Baptised Sikh.

I was contacted by the BBC Asian Network Team and asked to join in the discussion which I agreed to. They said they would ring me back at 1.30pm and take me on Live on Nihals phone in show. They soon after rang again saying that it maybe just after at 1.30pm and to just keep ready. They rang back at 1.42pm and put me on hold. By this time the programme was coming to an end and there was still a number of people who had phoned in who wished to go on air. At 1.56pm the woman who had put me on hold apologised for not being able to bring me into the show and promised to contact me again for a debate in the very near future regarding the Kirpan. I asked her to keep me updated with debates which revolved around the Sikh Faith which she said she would do.

Following protests by various Sikh organisations, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh today said the inauguration of Virasat-e-Khalsa (Khalsa Heritage Complex) in Anandpur Sahib on November 25 would take place as per the Sikh traditions and no film star had been invited to the event. The state government had planned to invite film stars Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini apart from singers Asha Bhonsle and Jaspinder Narula for the inauguration ceremony. Some Sikh organisations were particularly angry at the invitation to Bachchan, alleging that he was one of those who had instigated the anti-Sikh riots in 1984. Addressing a press conference here this evening, the Akal Takht chief said: “There will be recitation of Gurbani Kirtan. The Sikh high priests, SGPC members, representatives of the government, Sikh organisations and heads of different religions will participate in the momentous occasion,” he announced. He clarified that Bachchan had not been invited. On a query regarding Asha Bhonsle, he said: “There will be only recitation of Gurbani in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib.” On the participation of BJP president Nitin Gadkari, he said anybody could pay a visit to a gurdwara. Former SGPC secretary Manjeet Singh Calcutta, the All-India Sikh Students Federation and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) had approached the Akal Takht Jathedar to stop the SAD-BJP government from inviting film stars for the inauguration of the Khalsa Heritage Complex. In his letter to the Jathedar, Calcutta had said that the event should be held under the guidance of the Akal Takht and Sikh intellectuals, writers, historians, generals and sportspersons invited so that they could be a role model for the next generation of Sikhs.

In run-up to assembly elections, it’s time to crack political deals in Punjab. Apart from making all out efforts to woo voters, politicians are now making rounds of various spiritual ‘deras’ (bodies) seeking the votes of followers. The latest to join the league was People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) chief Manpreet Badal who recently met Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the controversial head of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda. Manpreet’s visit comes days after Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Capt Amarinder Singh visited the dera on November 12. The PPP president, it is learnt, had a 10-minute meeting with the dera chief, followed by another one with the dera’s political advisory committee (Punjab wing). Both Manpreet and the dera representatives concerned refused to comment on what transpires at the meeting. Ram Singh, one of the six members of the advisory committee, said there was no discussion about elections or even politics for that matter. He said Manpreet raised issues like corruption, drug-addiction and unemployment, issues about which even the dera was concerned. However, sources said a senior member of the dera’s committee, who is a resident of Husnar village in Gidderbaha, played an important role in facilitating Manpreet’s visit. “There is nothing wrong if a political leader visits a dera. Being a secular party, the PPP has high regard for every religious sect provided it works for the society’s betterment,” said Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, PPP vice-president. Ram Singh said several other political leaders, including Amarinder Singh, had visited the dera in recent past. But, said sources, the dera would weigh various options before taking the final decision on whom to support in the elections.

Eminent personalities from diverse fields would be present at the inauguration of Virasat-e-Khalsa, earlier named as Khalsa Heritage Complex, at Anandpur Sahib on November 25. Preparations for the ceremony are on in full swing and the state government is leaving no stone unturned to make it a memorable event. Among the invitees are the five Sikh High Priests, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasimi from Darul Uloom Deoband, Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini and renowned singer Asha Bhosle. The political guests include BJP national president Nitin Gadkari, Chief Ministers of a few states and eminent politicians of Punjabi origin who have made the cut in Canada and other foreign countries. Mian Imran Masood, a former Education Minister in Pakistan, has also been sent an invitation. After the inauguration ceremony, there would be a recitation of 'shabad' by Asha Bhosle, followed by brief speeches by a few religious personalities. The next would be a traditional Khalsa parade by Nihangs astride horses and a "Gatka" display. And the event would conclude with a shabad recitation by another renowned singer, Jaspinder Narula. The entry to the inaugural function, which would last for about half an hour, however, would be restricted. After the inauguration, a public function would be at Hola Mohalla ground in the rear of Gurdwara Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib. In the evening, yet another function would be held where a play, "Bole-so-Nihal", would be staged. "All functions related to the complex inauguration will have a religious ambience. Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan and others from the film world are coming but they will not stage any performance. They will be state guests," said Daljit Singh Cheema, in-charge of the functions.

High drama was witnessed at the Golden Temple Complex today as SAD (Amritsar) supporters led by its president Simranjeet Singh Mann staged a protest when BJP stalwart LK Advani along with his family members visited the shrine. The impact of the protest was clearly visible, as the SGPC didn't present 'siropa' (robe of honour) to the former Deputy PM inside the sanctum sanctorum. He was given a 'siropa' and a set of books at the SGPC's Information Office instead. Normally, whenever a VVIP visits Harmandar Sahib, a 'granthi' (priest) presents a 'siropa' to him. But Advani got one when he made an offering of Rs 500 at the sanctum sanctorum, which is a practice followed with all the devotees offering Rs 100 and above. The SGPC top brass was also conspicuous by its absence. Darbar Sahib manager Harbans Singh Malhi said Advani was felicitated by presenting a 'siropa' at the Information Office. The BJP leader didn't talk to the media while his family members urged mediapersons to "leave them alone". Mann had conveyed it to the police authorities that if Advani was honoured inside Sri Harmandar Sahib, his party would vehemently oppose it. Mann and his supporters gathered between the Darshani Deodhi and the Akal Takht early in the morning. When Advani reached the shrine around 10 am, he and his party activists started raising slogans like 'Advani Murdabad', 'Advani Go Back' and 'Khalistan Zindabad'. The protest prompted the SGPC task force and policemen in civvies to cordon off the protesters, which led to some manhandling between the two sides. Later, Advani faced another round of protests outside the Information Office, this time from SAD (Delhi) activists. SAD (Amritsar) and SAD (Delhi) were protesting against Advani's visit as they alleged that he "provoked" the government to launch Operation Bluestar in 1984, a charge which they attribute to some references made by the BJP leader in his autobiography, 'My Country, My Life'. Meanwhile, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar has accused Mann of violating the 'maryada' (code of conduct) of the shrine by raising slogans. Advani also visited Jallianwalla Bagh and Durgiana Temple. BJP leader Gheraoed by Mann men in Batala GURDASPUR: It was an unpleasant welcome for BJP leader LK Advani at Batala as he found himself gheraoed by over 25 SAD (A) activists who waved black flags at the former Deputy Prime Minister. But the police was quick to react and rounded up the activists. The incident occurred while Advani was delivering his speech after his Jan Chetna Yatra entered the district at Batala, 35 km from here, from Amritsar amidst a lukewarm response. Former Gurdaspur MP and film star Vinod Khanna and his wife Kavita Khanna accompanied Advani. Though Advani failed to draw much crowd in Gurdaspur, a good number of supporters turned up in Pathankot.