September 4, 2011
Clergy faces flak for threat to summon PM
IP Singh, TNN | Sep 4, 2011, 05.40AM IST
JALANDHAR: The Sikh clergy threatening to summon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Akal Takht following the fiasco over the notification on voting rights of Sehajdharis, has not gone down well with prominent Sikhs.
The clergy is facing criticism from many sections that say that the jathedar should first summon the Punjab CM for ordering arrest of Sikh activists closing down branches of the Sirsa Dera Sacha Sauda in Punjab, following directions of the Akal Takht in 2007.
They also dared Akal Takht jathedar Gurbachan Singh to summon the SGPC president for not complying orders to send a fact-finding delegation to Vienna, after the murder of Sant Ramanand, which caused a rift between Sikhs and Ravidasias, in 2009.
"The clergy seems to be siding with Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal by making such a statement when there has been no violation of Sikh 'maryada' or tradition by the PM," said former Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh.
Professor of Sikhism, Gurtej Singh, said: "They have no business abusing any Sikh, including Manmohan Singh. Jathedars have once again proved that they were puppets in the hands of a political party that gave up its panthic identity 15 years ago."
Former SGPC secretary general Manjit Singh Calcutta said that over 11 years ago, on May 14, 2000, the Akal Takht had directed the SGPC to arrange debates and discussions on the Dasam Granth and also urged various quarters against raising a controversy through media. The SGPC failed to comply with these directions despite reminders, keeping the issue simmering and leading to division in the community.
In another direction in 2007, the priests had attempted a review of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, to keep it free of politics but nothing happened, he said. Gurbachan Singh told The Times of India he was responsible for getting these directions implemented during his tenure. But he said he was not aware whether the directive pertaining to the Vienna visit, which was issued by him, was implemented or not.
"We shall pull bring to task anybody who does not comply with the directions," he said.
source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...ow/9855171.cms
More...
Clergy faces flak for threat to summon PM
IP Singh, TNN | Sep 4, 2011, 05.40AM IST
JALANDHAR: The Sikh clergy threatening to summon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Akal Takht following the fiasco over the notification on voting rights of Sehajdharis, has not gone down well with prominent Sikhs.
The clergy is facing criticism from many sections that say that the jathedar should first summon the Punjab CM for ordering arrest of Sikh activists closing down branches of the Sirsa Dera Sacha Sauda in Punjab, following directions of the Akal Takht in 2007.
They also dared Akal Takht jathedar Gurbachan Singh to summon the SGPC president for not complying orders to send a fact-finding delegation to Vienna, after the murder of Sant Ramanand, which caused a rift between Sikhs and Ravidasias, in 2009.
"The clergy seems to be siding with Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal by making such a statement when there has been no violation of Sikh 'maryada' or tradition by the PM," said former Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh.
Professor of Sikhism, Gurtej Singh, said: "They have no business abusing any Sikh, including Manmohan Singh. Jathedars have once again proved that they were puppets in the hands of a political party that gave up its panthic identity 15 years ago."
Former SGPC secretary general Manjit Singh Calcutta said that over 11 years ago, on May 14, 2000, the Akal Takht had directed the SGPC to arrange debates and discussions on the Dasam Granth and also urged various quarters against raising a controversy through media. The SGPC failed to comply with these directions despite reminders, keeping the issue simmering and leading to division in the community.
In another direction in 2007, the priests had attempted a review of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, to keep it free of politics but nothing happened, he said. Gurbachan Singh told The Times of India he was responsible for getting these directions implemented during his tenure. But he said he was not aware whether the directive pertaining to the Vienna visit, which was issued by him, was implemented or not.
"We shall pull bring to task anybody who does not comply with the directions," he said.
source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...ow/9855171.cms
More...