M A I N   N E W S

Sikhs have separate identity: RSS
From T.R. Ramachandran
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 16 — The National Commission for Minorities and representatives of the RSS sought to play down the controversy in Punjab by expressing a unanimous view that the Sikh community had its own identity and separate religion.

After a two-hour long meeting between the NCM and three representatives of the RSS here today, the stage is set for further discussions on all issues pertaining to the minorities.

The RSS also assured the NCM that its chief K.S. Sudarshan and the SGPC chief Jagdev Singh Talwandi could have an interface next month to remove any other misgivings that the Sikh Panth might have about the unwarranted alien interference in its religious affairs.

Buoyed by discussions covering a wide range of issues which had whipped up a controversy in Punjab, the NCM firmly believes that a face-to-face between Mr Talwandi and Mr Sudarshan at their mutual convenience will help ease tension and put matters on an even keel.

What the Sikh clergy finds disquieting are the alleged activities of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat in the recent past having the potential of creating a law and order situation in the border state. There is widespread feeling in the SGPC and various factions of the Akali Dal that the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat should be stopped from spreading mischievous propaganda. This is specially so because the elected SGPC is the overaching body to decide on the Sikh religious affairs.

The three-member RSS team — M.G. Vaidya, Satya Narain Bansal and R.P. Singh — told the NCM that they denounced attempts by mischievous elements to whip up communal passion by harping on the susceptibilities of the Sikh community.

In their first-ever meeting with the NCM, the RSS leaders explained all that they were striving for was for the Hindu culture to prevail in the country. The NCM drew pointed attention of the RSS leaders to the genuine fears of the minorities of losing their separate identity and being subsumed by the pursuit of Hindutva even if the RSS maintained that the focus was on the country’s myriad cultural aspects without any religious overtones.

The RSS leaders also conveyed a message to the NCM from Mr Sudarshan that their chief was willing to cooperate and prepared for an in-depth discussion at a later date if the need arose. This was welcomed by NCM chairman Justice Mohammad Shamim, vice-chairman Tarlochan Singh and the five members.

The RSS also agreed to hold discussions with the representatives of the Christian community sometime next month. This meeting would be held under the aegis of the NCM to allay the apprehensions of the Christians. It assumes significance as the RSS had said at its mahashivir in Agra in October last year that the Christian community should accept there was salvation outside the church.

Mr Tarlochan Singh described the meeting with the RSS leaders as “very positive and useful. Everyone must sit across the table and discuss problems to remove misgivings and find an amicable way out. The NCM is ever ready to provide its good offices in ensuring that religious harmony and amity prevails.”

A press note issued by the NCM this afternoon after its meeting with the RSS leaders said “on the issue of identity of the Sikh community, the commission and the RSS representatives were of the unanimous view that the Sikh constitutes a separate religion and a separate identity.”

Further, it noted that various other issues were discussed and it was agreed a further dialogue would be held between the Christian and RSS leadership to sort out any misunderstandings. The RSS representatives assured the commission that they were open to further discussions with the commission on all related issues.

The commission welcomed the representatives of the RSS and expressed happiness at the initiative in starting a dialogue on a “number of issues pertaining to the minorities based on mutual respect and understanding of different viewpoints,” the press note added.