Sikh Siyasat News (in English) » Anti-Sikh Deras

Sikh bodies lashed out at Captain Amrinder Singh for visiting Sirsa dera

Tejashdeep Singh — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:33:01 +0000

Amritsar (March 24, 2011): Taking exception to the visit of the Congress President Captain Amrinder Singh to Dera Sirsa to seek “blessings” from Gurmit Ram Rahim in view of the impending assembly elections, the Dal Khalsa, Khalsa Action Committee and SAD (Panch Pardani) has asked the Sikh electorate to take notice of it.

In a joint statement, party leaders Kanwar Pal Singh, Mohkam Singh and Harpal Singh Cheema took the Congress leader to task for visiting the person who has not only challenged the fundamentals of the Sikhism but has also committed a sacrilege. “By bowing before the Sirsa Dera head for electoral gains, the pro-Sikh and pro-Punjab mask from the face of Amrinder Singh has blown off”.

They said it’s ironic that Captain Amrinder Singh has ignored the Takht directive issued on May 21 in which every Sikh was ordered to sever his or her ties from Sirsa dera. They said Amrinder has dared to violate the Takht edict because Jathedar Gaini Gurbachan Singh has failed to take stringent action against those Akali leaders who visited Sirsa Dera during last Parliamentary elections to seek votes despite that Dal Khalsa had lodged written complaint at Akal Takht Secretariat against them. They further alleged that leaders of the SAD (Badal) especially Deputy Chief Minister was hand in glove with Sirsa dera.

Lashing out at both Congress and SAD, they said leaders of both the political parties have made mockery of the Sikh sentiments by hobnobbing with sects and cults that have posed challenged to Guruship of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Bhikhi remains under curfew; government and media take up positions against Sikhs

Parmjit Singh — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:14:20 +0000

Ludhiana/Mansa (January 03, 2011): Punjab government has come up openly in support of Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS), as the Punjab police yesterday arrested Sikh preacher Baba Baljeet Singh Daduwal and prevented him to address a Gurmat Samagam at Bhikhi town of Mansa district. Dadulwal was arrested by police from Gurudwara Jandsar, Bathinda. Police claims that it was a preventive measure, forced by repeated complaints of DSS followers.
Before it, DSS followers damaged the electricity line of Bhikhi Town in order to prevent Sikhs from holding the religious gathering. It is worth mentioning that Gurmeet Ram Raheem, head of DSS is accused of blasphemy, who attempted to personify himself as tenth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Personification of Sikh Gurus is strictly prohibited in Sikhism.
Police yesterday resorted to cane-charge on Sikhs, damaged their vehicles, and arrested many of them after clamping curfew in the town. More than fifty Sikhs are taken in custody today as the curfew is extended to indefinite time.
Police today prevented Sikh leader Simranjeet Singh Mann, President of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) from entering the town.
On the other hand main stream media of India has come to support repression on Sikhs. One of the main (English) newspapers published from Punjab has described Baba Baljeet Singh as “hard-line Sikh preacher”, while used the word “religious head” for Gurmeet Ram Raheem, who is facing charges of rape, sexual exploitation and murder. This news report used word “hard-liners” for Sikhs for six times, and the word “radicals” is used for seven times. All this seems to have done with intention to distort the image of Sikhs as a peaceful community.
Many Sikh organizations including Dal Khalsa, Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani), Sikh Students Federation, Khalsa Action Committee, Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satikar Sabha and Malwa Tarna Dal (International) has condemned the arrest of Baba Baljeet Singh and repression on Sikhs. They have threatened to launch a strong protest if Daduwal is not released and Sikhs are prevented from holding religious gatherings.

Sikhs booked under IPC, Arms Act for opposing DSS activities

Prabh Singh — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 03:33:01 +0000

Barnala (July 18, 2010): Eight Sikhs, who were taken into custody by Barnala Police for opposing activities of Dera Sauda Sirsa, are booked by the police for various charges under IPC and Arms Acts. It is notable that these Sikhs were arrested yesterday by the district police for opposing “naam charcha” activity of dera, which was held at village Thikriwala, near Barnala. Police also resorted to heavy lathi-charge against Sikhs and patronized naam charcha.

As per information received from Barnala arrested persons are charged under sections 353, 341, 186, 148, 149 of Indian Penal Code and Section 25 of Arms Act. Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj, who rushed to village Thikriwala on receiving the news of incident, informed SikhSiyasat Network that police has registered a false case against Sikh Sangat. Sikhs in large numbers, led by Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj blocked traffic at Thikriwala chowk (Barnala) for several hours to protest against arrests.

“If the police do not withdraw the case the situation may take aggressive turn, as Sikh sangat would not tolerate police atrocities on Sikhs” said Harpreet Singh, a resident of village Thikriwala.

Eight Sikhs arrested by Barnala Police for opposing dera's activities

Police patronized DSS charcha, Lathi-charged Sikhs at Thikriwala (Barnala)

Tejashdeep Singh — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:51:28 +0000

Barnala (July 17, 2010): As per reports received from Barnala, the district police Lathi-Charged Sikhs, who were protesting against “naam charcha” being organized by followers of Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS). DSS head outraged feelings of Sikhs by personifying himself as the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs in 2007. In May 2007 activities of DSS was formally declared to be outrageous by the Sikh highest body, Sri Akal Takhat Sahib.

Today followers of DSS held their activity called “naam charcha” in village Thikriwala, near Barnala. Sikhs, who claimed to act as per directive of Sri Akal Takhat, protested in a peaceful manner but the police cane-charged the Sikh protesters and “naam charcha” was held under police patronage.

Sources informed SikhSiyasat Network that at least eight Sikhs, mostly residents of Thikriwala village, have been arrested by the Barnala Police.

Meanwhile, various Sikh bodies including Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj, Guru Granth Sahib Satikar Sabha and SAD (Panch Pardhani), have warned the police against arrest of Sikhs. Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj severely criticized the police action.

Panch Pardhani organized a march against Dera Sauda & Badal Govt

Tejashdeep Singh — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:30:59 +0000

Shiromani Akali Dal Panch Pardhani

Talwandi Sabo (May 16, 2010): Various Sikh organizations led by Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) today marched from Takht Damdama Sahib to Bathinda to protest against Dera Sacha Sauda and pressure the government to release SAD (Panch Pardhani) Chairman Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu.

Activists who gathered at Takht Damdama Sahib accused the Parkash Singh Badal government of conniving with the Sirsa-based Dera “after using his support for the election of his daughter-in-law Harsimrat Kaur from Bathinda“. All the speakers including Harpal Singh Cheema of SAD (Panch Pardhani), Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj, Darshan Singh Jagga, Sukhwinder Singh (SGGS Satikar Sabha, Haryana) and Baljinder Singh (Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj), accused Badal of sabotaging their campaign against the Dera.

They alleged those committed to implementing the Akal Takht edict of May 17, 2007, for ensuring the closure of the Dera Sacha Sauda set-up at Salabatpura were being put behind bars.

Sikhs protesting against Badal Government

A “shaheedi jatha“ of 21 Sikh women (whose family members have been either killed or arrested during clashes with Dera followers) attempted to set out towards the Dera at Salabatpura, and offered bangles for all Takht jathedars and SGPC members for their “failure to implement the hukamnama”. However, the police took them in preventive custody just as they stepped out of the main gate of Takht Damdama Sahib.

Later, other Sikh activists marched towards Bathinda to submit a memorandum to the deputy commissioner, but were stopped near the city bus stand by a heavy police contingent, where Addn. DC, Siban accepted the memorandum.

Murder Case against Dera Chief: supporters burnt trains, buses

Daljeet Singh — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:58:50 +0000

Ludhiana (February 28, 2010): The CBI has filed a fresh murder case against the head of dera sauda sirsa, and reacting violantly over it dera supporters went on a rampage setting ablaze four trains and around 37 vehicles, including 27 buses, and vandalized property in several places in Punjab and Haryana.

Tension ran high in many towns in the two neighbouring states as police were put on high alert and Haryana requisitioned 1,500 para-military personnel to deal with the situation. The protesters set afire a compartment each of the Ferozepur-Ludhiana Sutlej Express, the Narwana-Kurukshetra train and two local trains after asking the passengers to disembark, a railway spokesman said. They also vandalised railway property at Tapa, Moga and Kalaiyat in Punjab, he said.

It is notable that deras often indulge in such a kind of violence and arson activities but still find favor of Indian state and its organs. But on the other hand since the initiation of controversy with dera sauda in 2007, the Sikhs always remained peaceful while expressing their anger; they never damaged any public property nor indulged in arson, still the State suppress them harshly.

43rd Sikh Jatha arrested by Talwandi Sabo Police

Gurbhej Singh — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:24:59 +0000

File Photo: A scene of Jatha leaving Takhat Damdama Sahib

Talwandi Sabo (January 10, 2010): 43^rd group of 11 Sikhs, called Jatha, is reported to have been arrested by Punjab Police from Talwandi Sabo, while they were attempting to march towards Salabatpura (Bathinda) based branch of Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS).

This jatha left Takhat Damdama Sahib, fifth temporal seat of the Sikhs, at around afternoon, soon after they were arrested by Talwandi sabo police and were taken to the police station, informed Mata Malkeet Kaur Jaga Ram Tirath, a senior leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhnai).

It is notable that the head of DSS is accused for hurting Sikh sentiments, as he attempted to personify the tenth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in May 2007. Personification of Sikh Gurus is strictly prohibited in Sikhism. DSS was declared as anti-Sikh sect by general gathering of Sikhs held at Damdama Sahib on 17^th May, 2007. This decision was re-confirmed by the Akal Takhat Sahib on 20^th May, 2007 and Sikhs were asked not to allow dera followers to hold their vicious activities.

Badal Government, under the pressure of Indian state system, attempted to reopen various branches of DSS in Punjab in early months of 2009. At this point of time various Sikh organizations joined hands against the Government’s move and launched a peaceful agitation called ‘morcha’. On 22^nd March, 2009, first jatha (group) of eleven Sikhs marched towards Salabatpura branch of DSS to seek its’ closure, but this group was arrested by the Police. Since then, every Sunday, eleven Sikhs march towards Salabatpura to seek its’ lockout. “So far 43 jathas have been arrested by the police but the Sikh sangat is committed to continue with the struggle till success.” said Bhai Sukhwinder Singh of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satikar Sabha (Haryana).

Dal Khalsa took SGPC president to task

Prabh Singh — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:11:32 +0000

Amritsar (December 17, 2009): The Dal Khalsa ridicules SGPC president for shielding the CM and criticizing the call given by various Sikh bodies to summon Parkash Singh Badal at the Akal Takht for allowing the DJJS led by Mahant Aushotosh to hold its function in Ludhiana on Dec 5 ignoring all appeals made by religious organizations and political groups to ban it.

Party head H S Dhami and spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh pointed out that the SGPC has failed to achieve the basic purpose of religious propagation that had resulted in rise of self-styled godmen.

They alleged that the office of the president of the SGPC has become subservient to the dictates of the political bosses.

Blaming SGPC leadership for lacking will power and commitment to deliver required results, they said the mushrooming of deras and self-styled godmen in the recent past had been having destabilizing effects on the Sikh religion.

Describing Jathedar Avtar Singh as a ‘spineless’ person, they said to hide his own incompetence, he was passing the buck to others. Taking a cue from Makhar’s lecture to Sant Samaj that they should leave politics for the politicians, the leaders asked Mr. Makkar to show same courage in directing his political bosses (Read Senior and Junior Badal) that they too should stop their interference in religious matters.

Questioning SGPC’s efficiency in containing the rise of gurudom, they asked why were the Akal Takht jathedar and SGPC officials silently sitting on the report they themselves had asked for and ordered to be done, which states that the DJJS (cult) was guilty of religious transgression and blasphemy.

The situation in Punjab was volatile because of rise of various cults and self-styled godmen that have mushroomed to outrage Sikh beliefs, they warned.

The leaders demanded from the State Government to ban activities of DJJS led by Mahant Aushotosh through notification. Mere statement by Home Minister at the floor of assembly that “the government will not allow any such function to be held in future that can disturb peace and social harmony” holds no water, said they. “All books and cassettes mentioned in the report submitted to Akal Takht Sahib on 30th January 2004 should be proscribed. All new literature of the DJJS should be reviewed by a high level committee of the government, which should also have representatives of Sikh organizations and Sikh scholars”.

Panch Pardhani calls for unity of Panth against deras

Daljeet Singh — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:38:03 +0000

Ludhiana (11 December, 2009: Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani), led by Bhai Daljeet Singh Bittu, has accused the Punjab Government and Ludhiana administration for their alleged failure to evaluate public opinion against Ashutosh, as a result the confrontation between Sikh Sangat and Punjab police claimed the life of Darshan Singh of native village Lohara. In the absence of Bhai Bittu, as he is confined in Amritsar jail for last three months, Panch Pardhani leaders Harinder Singh Khalsa (former MP), Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind, Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema, Amrik Singh Ishru and Jasbir Singh Khandur addressed a press conference here in Ludhiana today and issued an appeal to all Sikh organizations to show unity upon this matter.

S. Harinder Singh Khalsa, while talking to media persons said that Badal Government has repeated the bloodily episode of April 1978 but this time it was Police and none else who has killed and injured Sikhs.

Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind raised the issue that administration was irresponsible in ordering shooting bullets at Sikhs without exhausting other available alternatives. “Attitude of police was un-natural and over-aggressive in suppressing Sikh protestors. Even bare-handed, injured and those who were doing nothing more than just attempting to help injured were also badly beaten up by the police” said Bhai Barapind.

Panch Pardhani claimed that Sikhs have a history to remain peaceful while protesting against such deras. ‘When ever the situation turned violent, the contribution of conditions created by administration can be easily traced out.’

Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema, Secretary General of Panch Pardhani, said that attempts shall be made to bring all Sikh organizations on same platform on 12 December and a common strategy and action plan shall be adopted. He issued an appeal to the youth organizations to show patience at this period of crises. While addressing to pathic leaders collectively, Bhai Cheema asked them not to shift their stands on crucial issues, as this cause serious apprehension regarding their abilities in young minds.

SSF criticized Badal Government for Ludhiana incident

Prabh Singh — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:20:19 +0000

Ludhiana (December 7, 2009): Terming it as complete failure of administration to handle the situation at Ludhiana the Sikh Students Federation has severely criticized the Punjab Government. In a statement issued by SSF Vice-President Makhan Singh, the Badal Government is blamed for voluntarily suffering the Saturday’s incident at Ludhiana, which claimed life of one and resulted in injuries to several others.

‘The administration ordered the police to open fire at Sikhs without exhausting other available options. Use of water canons or rubber bullets could have helped the admin to control the situation, but they were never used.’ said SSF President Parmjeet Singh Gazi. ‘Police was extra-aggressive and it was witnessed that they continue to badly beat up those Sikhs who were bare handed, injured and lying on roads helplessly or were just trying take away the injured fellows.’ he added, while arguing that all this multiplied the anger of protestors and situation turned worse.

‘The confrontation was expected as the Government did not pay any heed to repeated appeals of Sikh organizations to continue with ban imposed on Ashutosh led Divya Jyoti Jagran Sansthan.’ says the statement. Public activity of DJJS was banned by previous congress government considering the controversial nature of the dera head and to maintain peace of Punjab. ‘The Ludhiana administration has worked under political pressure’ says the Statement.