M A I N   N E W S

Badal under fire for minister’s ‘misconduct’
Varinder Walia and Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Amritsar/Bathinda, May 9
Even as Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Minister for Science and Technology, the lone Hindu Akali minister in the Badal government, could not be summoned at Akal Takht for having attended an eye camp organised by Nirankaris at Bathinda, in violation of the hukamnama directing the Sikhs to sever all relations with Nirankaris many Sikhs especially the leadership of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) has sought action against Mr Parkash Singh Badal who heads the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal.

According to Sikh maryada, a non-Sikh cannot be summoned at Akal Takht. Moreover, some moderate Sikhs feel that Mr Garg had attended a function related to welfare programme.

Mr Garg, when contacted by TNS at his official residence at Chandigarh, hoped the matter would be resolved shortly.

Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SHSAD president, said it was possible that Mr Garg himself was deputed by Mr Badal to attend the function organised by the Nirankaris with an eye on the forthcoming general election. He said that being a non-Sikh, Mr Garg could not be summoned at Akal Takht but Mr Badal could be directed to explain the position as to how an Akali minister could announce a grant of Rs 25,000 from his discretionary quota to Nirankaris.

The participation of Mr Garg at the function has, however, given credence to the rumours that Nirankaris might approach Akal Takht for un- conditional apology for the Nirankari-Sikh clash in which 13 Sikhs belonging to the Akhand Kirtani Jatha and the Jatha of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale were killed on April 13, 1978.

The hukamnama, issued by Akal Takht in 1978, had directed the Sikh sangat to sever all relations with Nirankaris. However, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, has given a call to all excommunicated persons that they can rejoin the Sikh fold after apologising for their misconduct.

After availing of the call by Baba Santa Singh, Nihang chief and the family of Teja Singh Bhasauria other Nirankaris might come forward to join the Sikh fold. Earlier too, the Nirankaris had made an endeavour to rejoin the Sikh fold but their moves were scuttled.

It may be mentioned here that Mr Garg had allegedly presided over the free eye operation camp by Sant Nirankari Mandal, Bathinda, last week.

However, the Sikh circles feel that Jathedar Vedanti is unlikely to initiate action against Mr Badal or Mr Garg. Jathedar Vedanti, who is being considered a weak Jathedar had failed to summon Mr Kewal Singh Badal, junior vice-president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, and his father, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Agriculture Minister, who had inadvertently participated in a function organised by one Baba Pyara Singh Bhaniara, who was excommunicated by Akal Takht.

Though Mr Kewal Singh Badal had written to Akal Takht and expressed unconditional apology yet they could not be summoned at Akal Takht for even a symbolic punishment.

On the other hand, the Jathedar has also failed to take up the complaint of veteran SGPC member Puran Singh Josh, who belongs to the ruling party, against Mr Badal, Mr Josh had complained that action should be initiated against Mr Badal for visiting a Hindu temple in Patiala.

The Jathedar had also kept mum on the complaint against Mr Sucha Singh Langah, an Akali Minister and member of the SGPC, for organising 501 paths of Ramayana at Dhariwal. The Sikh circles are of the view that an SGPC member cannot propagate any religion other than Sikhism.

Representatives of various Sikh organisations, especially radicals, may raise the issue of Mr Garg presiding over an eye operation camp organised by the Nirankari Mandal, Bathinda, at the proposed Sikh conclave called by Jathedar Vedanti at Akal Takht.

Earlier, Mr Garg had taken Bibi Jagir Kaur, former SGPC president, to Chawinda Devi Temple in Amritsar district at the time of the crucial Majitha byelection where she was presented a siropa (robe of honour).

Mr Ishat Pal Singh Khialiwala, SHSAD general secretary and Mr Hartej Singh Mehta, president, youth wing SHSAD (Bathinda), alleged the visit of Mr Garg had hurt the feelings of Sikhs for which Mr Badal was responsible. They said Mr Badal should own the responsibility for Mr Garg’s action and seek his resignation for announcing a grant of Rs 25,000 from his discretionary quota. If Mr Badal failed to initiate any action against Mr Garg, he should be summoned at Akal Takht.

Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, an Akali MLA and former SGPC secretary, has also said Mr Badal should be held responsible for the visit of Mr Garg. If Mr Garg claimed himself to be an old Akali he must know the contents of the constitution of Akali Dal and be aware about Sikh rehat maryada.

On the other hand, the Sikh circles feel that Jathedar Vedanti won’t dare to take action against anybody in this case. The SGPC executive had already passed a resolution that instead of taking suo motu action religious matters pertaining to Sikhism should first be scrutinised by the religious advisory committee, dharam parchar committee and the executive committee of the SGPC.

Mr Tohra and Mr Calcutta said like the apex court the Akal Takht Jathedar could take suo motu action on any religious misconduct. They alleged the SGPC executive had passed such a resolution curtailing the powers of the Jathedar at the behest of the ruling Akali Dal as many cases were pending against Mr Badal and his Cabinet colleagues before the Sikh high priests.