M A I N   N E W S

Kala Afghana excommunicated
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 10
The Sikh clergy today excommunicated Canada-based cop-turned-controversial Sikh scholar and close aide of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Gurbax Singh Kala Afghana, from the Sikh Panth for his “blasphemous acts”. Mr Kala Afghana is the author of the set of 10 books, ‘Bipran ki rit ton sach da marg’ (from Brahminism to the path of Sikhism).

The Sikh clerics indicted Mr Kala Afghana for ridiculing the Sikh ethos, values and scriptures, thereby hurting the sentiments of the Sikh Panth. The “hukmnama” pronounced by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, from the rostrum of Akal Takht appealed to the Sikh Sangat in India and abroad to snap all ties with Mr Kala Afghana, who had defied all directives of Akal Takht. Earlier, Mr Kala Afghana was declared “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious punishment) on May 10 and was directed to clarify his position by July 10.

Mr Kala Afghana had been pleading before Akal Takht that he was unable to visit the Takht as he would be arrested whenever he tried to enter India due to his close association with Sant Bhindranwale. The plea given by Mr Kala Afghana was that he could not travel as he was bed-ridden for a long time. However, Mr Gurtej Singh, a former IAS officer and Sikh scholar, who made efforts to plead the case on his (Kala Afghana’s) behalf was not allowed to do so. While accepting the problems of Mr Kala Afghana, the Sikh clergy had allowed him to clarify his position through video conferencing. However, Jathedar Vedanti backed out from the promise on “technical grounds”. It is learnt that the Jathedar made a volte-face on the issue due to the pressure from the SGPC chief, who had told him that there was no such precedent in the Sikhism.

It may be mentioned here that in a letter faxed to the Akal Takht secretariat yesterday, Mr Kala Afghana had sought more time to clarify his position. However, Jathedar Vedanti said that he was already given enough time but he failed to appear before the Takht till the deadline, which ended today.

The Sikh clergy had also appealed to the Sikh Sangat not to allow Mr Kala Afghana and his supporters to address any gathering from any stage. The edicts stated that Mr Kala Afghana had declared that he wished to appear before international media by the deadline, which he failed to keep. He said from various letters of Mr Kala Afghana written to Akal Takht, it was proved beyond doubt that he had turned his back to the age-old Sikh traditions.

Earlier, the Sikh high priests Jathedar Vedanti, Giani Bhagwan Singh Head Granthi Akal Takht, Giani Balwant Singh, Jathedar Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Tarlochan Singh, Acting Jathedar Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Giani Gurbachan Singh, Granthi Golden Temple, held a marathon meeting at the Akal Takht Secretariat to discuss the issue.

Later, talking to the media, Jathedar Vedanti said that Sikh clerics had rejected the application of Mr Kala Afghana received here yesterday as it was found to be “forged”.