Latest On The March From Dina Kangar To Talwandi Sabo

[Singh, Mahan]

I read the following news and analysis about tomorrow’s (June 24, 2007) march from Dina Kangar (in Moga ) to Takht Damdama Sahib . This news is copied from The World Sikh News website. Looks like it is turning out to be what many have predicted. Only the younger Sikhs in the march, while the so called ’leaders’ and most of the Sant and Babas backing out. Do Ardaas for their safety and for them to be able to complete it successfully without police interfering and turning it into an ugly situation.

http://worldsikhnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=736&Itemid=29

Tension abounds as Khalsa Action Committee's march due to start in a few hours

Written by Daljit SIngh

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Sarna, Nandgarh pull back, Bhai Daljit Singh, Kanwarpal Singh, others dig in

SALABATPURA/DINA KANGAR: Punjab continues to be sitting on a dynamite as far as tensions at the grassroot level are concerned, and in a few hours, the Khalsa Action Committee's much awaited march will be on the way, criss-crossing the disturbed terrains of Malwa.

Flag marches across Malwa have become so routine that they now figure only on the inside pages of newspapers, the Khalsa Action Committee is adamant on taking out the march against the Dera Sauda from Gurdwara Dina Kangar in Moga to Takht Damdama Sahin in Talwandi Sabo and the tussle between the panthic leaders and the administration continues about the route of the march which almost touches Salabatpura, the epicentre of volcanic reaction in Punjab to the antics of Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

But also keeping pace is the sad part of the news trickling in, something almost symptomatic of many a Sikh struggle. It is about intra-fraternity differences. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Commitee president Paramjit Singh Sarna has pulled out of the Khalsa March, Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh has asked that it be postponed and a split seems fast emerging between the Sarnas and rest, which include Bhai Daljit Singh of Akali Dal (Amritsar), Kanwarpal Singh of Dal Khalsa, Mohkam Singh of Damdami Taksal and others.

The SGPC has also asked that the march be posponed, the move seemingly the first indication that the unity under the larger umbrella of the Akal Takht could be lost due to any poor handling now on part of the clergy. Akal Takht jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti is cutting short his trip to Canada and a meeting has been scheduled for June 27 to discuss the apology in a sealed envelope. (Interestingly, most of the contents of the sealed envelope have already spilled out in Punjab newspapers, again indicating poor and smudgy handling of the issue).

Sarna is believed to be taking a line that he has achieved the best that could have been achieved by extracting the apology from the Dera Sauda. However, most panthic leaders (read, other than those belonging to the camp of Parkash Singh Badal) are not particularly enthused by the apology's wording. Once again, the apology is not signed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

The panthic lobby is especially peeved with Nandgarh for his changed version. Initially, Nandgarh had emerged as one of the most outspoken critics.

On its part, the Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) has declared it would go ahead with the planned agitation. While Jathedar Nandgarh claimed he had asked the Khalsa Action Committee to defer the march in view of Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti's appeal against agitations without approval from the clergy but supporters of the protest said it was a move by the Parkash Singh Badal government to scuttle their plans.

Dal Khalsa general secretary Kanwarpal Singh said they had planned the June 24 March with the consent of Jathedar Vedanti. "Moreover, Jathedar Nandgarh, with whom we discussed the plan thrice, had initially agreed to participate. His U-turn is only an indication that he has issued his appeal at Badal's behest," he said.

SAD (Amritsar) deputy chief Bhai Daljit Singh said the planned agitation could not be deferred. "We have made all preparations for the protest march and any decision to defer it would be detrimental to the interests of the community." Damdami Taksal spokesman Mohkam Singh said instead of issuing appeals to defer the march, Jathedar Nandgarh should in fact lead it.

The SGPC and the Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar seem to have taken it upon themselves to scuttle the protest march. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar has appealed that the movement against the Dera be toned down after the new apology and also suggested that the march be postponed.

Meanwhile, SAD (Amritsar) leaders and activists are reported to have gone underground to evade possible arrest ahead of the June 24 march.

The Haryana Front:

The Haryana government has stepped in to check the frequent conflicts occurring between the two sides over the "nam charcha" service in villages. While on one hand columns of the state police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the Border Security Force (BSF) on June 22 staged a flag march in various villages to restore confidence among people and provide a deterrence to violent ele ments, on the other a 32-member peace committee constituted by the Sirsa administration, which met on June 23, was mandated to visit all trouble-hit villages and other potential hotspots over the next three days to impress upon the Premis (Dera followers) and Sikhs to maintain communal harmony.

A district official said: "We will also try and constitute village-level peace committees to further the process. The idea is to involve more and more people and persuade them to maintain claim. They can approach the district administration in the event of a problem," said. The peace committee comprising people from various sections of society and four district officials will start travelling in small groups from tomorrow morning to spread the message of peace and harmony.

The state government, which has been under strain to maintain law and order in the district ever since Sikhs went up in arms over the blasphemous acts of Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim, has made it a priority to restore public order. The concern is not without reason as officials fear the incidents of violence in Haryana could shift the focus of the controversy to that state.

Much of the tension over "nam charcha" has remained concentrated on the Haryana side than in Punjab. In Sirsa, too, most clashes have taken place in villages close to Punjab. "Villages in the Jogewala-Odhan-Lakkranwali-Pucca belt, which are closer to Punjab, have been the hotspots. And those are the areas the peace committees are going to focus on," sources say.

For the readers of the WSN, this is what the sealed envelope awaiting the return of Akal Takht jathedar contains:

The Dera Sacha Sauda organisation believes in all religions (Sarv-dharma) and respects them. To help build character, to help people shun non-vegetarian food and narcotics, to help remove differences of religion, caste etc and to inculcate self-less love are the objectives of this organisation. Sant Ji says that leave aside imitation of Sarbansdani Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj or equating with him, he cannot even think of such a thing. The developments of the last few days are a subject of concern and the misunderstandings emerging from that are extremely regrettable. In the interests of the humanity, we seek forgiveness from True Rehbar of Roohaniyat, Satguru Sarbansdani Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the Guru Panth. May the peace and mutual harmony prevail in Punjab, Haryana and desh-videsh, such is our wish!

QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED:

1. Will the Dera chief stop his Jaam-e-Insa programs? The apology provides no answer, and a program is scheduled this week at Sirsa again.

2. Why was the meeting with the representatives of Dera held in a hush-hush manner?

3. Paramjit Singh Sarna was a member of the Khalsa Action Committee. Why did he not take the KAC into confidence while maintaining direct links with the Dera? Why did he not take permission of any of the clerics for this?

4. Why was the house of the Police SSP chosen as a meeting place?

5. Why did the Dera representatives not face the media and sneaked out in the night from the SSP's residence?

6. What prompted sudden somersault by Jathedar Balwant Singh Ji Nandgarh?

7. If the issue is of such prominence, why was it not possible for someone to open the envelope, and read out the contents to Jathedar Vedanti who could then have confabulated with other clerics or any leaders? In this age of 'new-age' communications, what impression does it convey of the highest leadership of the community? Weren't other clerics capable of opening the envelope and read and discuss what the apology contained?

8. Do we not have a situation where Sarna and the dera men, and a police SSP, knows what the Akal Takht jathedar and the Sikh quom, and best panthic leaders do not know?

9. Does anyone believe that Parkash Singh Badal does not know the contents of the sealed envelope?

10. Why is the Akali Dal silent on the open support of Congress to the Dera head on the floor of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in the ongoing session?

--------

[Panth Ke Jeet]

ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਹਿ ॥

Guru Piario Sadh Sangat Ji,

Couple of links with news reports of the march. Yesterday's news - http://panthkijeet.blogspot.com/2007/06/bu...art-xxxxiv.html plus today's news from the march - http://panthkijeet.blogspot.com/2007/06/bu...part-xxxxv.html. More later in the evening.

ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਹਿ ॥

[Guest PunjabSingh]

Yesterday's Khalsa march was very successful despite efforts to scuttle it :

http://www.***anti-sikh website not allowed***/images/news.../pages/FRS1.htm

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070625/punjab1.htm#3

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070625/punjab1.htm#2

http://worldsikhnews.com/index.php?option=...7&Itemid=29

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070625/punjab1.htm#4

We can expect a video of this Khalsa March soon on Sikh Siyasat website .

Harjot Singh Brar,

Punjab

[Singh, Mahan]

Yesterday's Khalsa march was very successful despite efforts to scuttle it :

http://www.***anti-sikh website not allowed***/images/news.../pages/FRS1.htm

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070625/punjab1.htm#3

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070625/punjab1.htm#2

http://worldsikhnews.com/index.php?option=...7&Itemid=29

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070625/punjab1.htm#4

We can expect a video of this Khalsa March soon on Sikh Siyasat website .

Harjot Singh Brar,

Punjab

.

More pictures of the Khalsa “Chetna” March (June 24, 2007) From Dina- Kangar to Takht Damdama Sahib

From The ***anti-sikh website not allowed***

1. http://www.***anti-sikh website not allowed***/images/news.../pages/FRS1.htm

2. http://www.***anti-sikh website not allowed***/images/news.../pages/FRS5.htm

3. http://www.***anti-sikh website not allowed***/images/news...pages/FRS10.htm

From The Punjab News

http://www.5abnews.com/demo/details.php?id...;type=taaza_one

From The Ajit

http://www.ajitjalandhar.com/20070625/main1.php

http://www.ajitjalandhar.com/20070625/fp-imgs/march1.jpg

http://www.ajitjalandhar.com/20070625/fp-imgs/march2.jpg

http://www.ajitjalandhar.com/20070625/fp-imgs/march3.jpg

[Guest PunjabSingh]

Yesterday's Khalsa march was very successful despite efforts to scuttle it :

http://www.***anti-sikh website not allowed***/images/news.../pages/FRS1.htm

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070625/punjab1.htm#3

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070625/punjab1.htm#2

http://worldsikhnews.com/index.php?option=...7&Itemid=29

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070625/punjab1.htm#4

We can expect a video of this Khalsa March soon on Sikh Siyasat website .

Harjot Singh Brar,

Punjab

.

More pictures of the Khalsa “Chetna” March (June 24, 2007) From Dina- Kangar to Takht Damdama Sahib

From The ***anti-sikh website not allowed***

1. http://www.***anti-sikh website not allowed***/images/news.../pages/FRS1.htm

2. http://www.***anti-sikh website not allowed***/images/news.../pages/FRS5.htm

3. http://www.***anti-sikh website not allowed***/images/news...pages/FRS10.htm

From The Punjab News

http://www.5abnews.com/demo/details.php?id...;type=taaza_one

From The Ajit

http://www.ajitjalandhar.com/20070625/main1.php

http://www.ajitjalandhar.com/20070625/fp-imgs/march1.jpg

http://www.ajitjalandhar.com/20070625/fp-imgs/march2.jpg

http://www.ajitjalandhar.com/20070625/fp-imgs/march3.jpg

Khalsa March at Damdama Sahib

http://www.sikhsiyasat.com/images/potw.jpg

[kaal_tuhi]

All the latest news from punjab, multimedia, disscussions, polls etc on -------Visit Sikh Panthic Website Now

[Singh, Mahan]

Even when the ‘Chetna’ march was peaceful, the government has decided to file possible charges of sedition on some unknown people who ‘will be identified later’ .

Source: The Tribune - http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070626/punjab1.htm#17

.

Khalsa Chetna marchers booked

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 25

A case has been registered against several persons, who raised anti-national slogans and distributed inflammatory material during the Khalsa Chetna March yesterday.

A case has been registered Sections 124(a) and 153(a) and 153 (b) of the IPC for anti-national activities and instigation against unidentified persons at Talwandi Sabo police station on the complaint of assistant sub -inspector Mohan Singh who was on duty there yesterday.

The peosons will be identified and traced from the video films and photographs of the march, the police said. Though the procession was peaceful, slogans in favour of 'Khalistan' and Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale were raised, to which the police had objected earlier.

[Guest PunjabSingh]

As expected the video of June 24,2007 Khalsa march has been posted on the Sikh Siyasat website .

Here is the direct link :

http://www.sikhsiyasat.com/misc/khalsamarch240607.html

[Singh, Mahan]

As expected the video of June 24,2007 Khalsa march has been posted on the Sikh Siyasat website .

Here is the direct link :

http://www.sikhsiyasat.com/misc/khalsamarch240607.html

Further split in Khalsa Action Committee (KCA)

Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070629/main4.htm

Dera Row: Khalsa panel splits; Sant Samaj recalls 2

Varinder Walia

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 28

In a major jolt to the Sikh hardliners, who have been spearheading a campaign against Dera Sacha Sauda, the 15-member Khalsa Action Committee (KCA) has been split, a day before its crucial meeting scheduled to be held at Fatehgarh Sahib. An emergency meeting of Sant Samaj has decided to withdraw its two members from the committee. President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Parmjit Singh Sarna, who had played an important role in eliciting the fresh apology from the dera, has already dissociated from the committee.

Talking to The Tribune, chief of the Damdami Taksal Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa said the emergency meeting of the Sant Samaj, held at Zira today, decided in principle to withdraw its both members, Sukhchain Singh and Baljit Singh Daduwal, from the committee. However, former Jathedar of Akal Takht Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode said he would attend tomorrow's meeting. The Damdami Taksal chief said the Sant Samaj would abide by the directive of the Jathedar of Akal Takht, who had given a call to hold a Sikh conclave at Ratia in Haryana in July to demand the arrest of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

[Guest PunjabSingh]

Although not a member of KAC I have doubts ab out Dhadrianwala .Besides him Bhai Rode's role has so far not been without suspicion .These are my personal views .

The KAC needs to be restructured.

Im already seeing new names in the KAC member list on Panthic.org website :

http://www.panthic.org/news/125/ARTICLE/3347/2007-06-13.html

Dont know from where panthic.org got the new names .

But the original KAC member list is in the following memorandum :

http://www.sikhsiyasat.com/lib/pdf/eng_Mem...N_committee.pdf

Baba Sukhchain Singh(Sant Samaj) and Bhai Rode were present when Sarna met with Dera people in Mohali SSP's house .

But it is sad to note that even Bhai Baljit Singh Dadu has withdrawn from KAC at the instance of Dhumma.