AMRITSAR (2-20-99)   Various Singh Sabhas, Khalsa Divans in Punjab and other states, in a joint press note, openly criticized Parkash Badal's attempts to control Panthic Institutions, and decalred that Jathedar Ranjt Singh is the recognized Jathedar of the Khalsa Panth.

In a break from traditions, Sri Darbar Sahib Head Granthi Giani Mohan Singh along with representatives of all Panthic Organizations were absent from this Sarkari ceremony.

SRI AMRITSAR SAHIB (2-7-99),   The "Golden Temple" Complex, Amritsar, the Holiest Shrine of Sikhism, housing Sri Darbar Sahib, and Sri Akal Takht Sahib, among other Shrines, has came under seige by Anti-Panthic security forces of Parkash Kumar Badal.

The Director-General of Punjab Police, Dusht P.C. Dogra, who specially flew in to Amritsar to review the law and order situation, however, said that the police was alive to the situation and nobody would be allowed to take the law into his hands.

A Deputy Commissioner, in a press conference said that besides ban orders under Section 144 CrPC, the district administration could take some special measures for the sake of preventing any untoward situation.

He said that Section 144 CrPC was promulgated for one month banning assembly of four or more persons and carrying of arms in view of the Sikh conclave at Akal Takht on February 2. This will remain in force till the end of this month, he added.

SSP Sahota admitted that security around the Golden Temple complex was strengthened, specially at all the main gates. Sahota said that about 80 policemen were permanently deployed in the complex in plain clothes to check the entry of anti national elements.

Dusht Badal needs no reminder that Facist Indira Gandhi had sent troops to the Complex in 1984, and the Sikh Panth quickly paid her back in kind. Unless Dusht Badal changes his ways, it is almost certain that he too will follow in her footsteps.

Akal Takht Jathedar gives ultimatum to Badal

AMRITSAR SAHIB, (2-2-99)   Jathedar of the Akal Takht Sahib, Bhai Ranjit Singh, has said that the Sikh Panth would not allow the Punjab Government to lead the tercentenary celebrations of the creation of the Khalsa, till the Chief Minister, Mr. Prakash Singh Badal, gives a written assurance of fulfilling the agenda of the recent Sikh struggle, which included a demand of recognising the Sikhs as a separate Nation, enactment of a separate Sikh personal law and release of Sikh prisoners.

In what is being viewed as direct confrontation with the Punjab Chief Minister's religious agenda, the Jathedar in an open letter, sought from Mr. Badal a written assurance to this effect, to the Akal Takht, within the next couple of days, failing which the Takht would take over the entire religious celebrations of the Khalsa fete. He said that without the written assurance the Sikh Panth would not hand over its Panthic stage to anybody.

Meanwhile, at a meeting of the heads of about a dozen religious organisations, a resolution was passed to effect consensus of Bhai Ranjit Singh as Jathedar of the Akal Takht. In an indirect warning to the Badal faction of the Akali Dal, the resolution said that any attempt to dislodge Bhai Ranjit Singh, who was acceptable to all political and religious sects, would have dangerous consequences and could create hurdles for the smooth conduct of the Khalsa celebrations.

The resolution, along with three others, was later adopted at an impressive public gathering in the courtyard facing the Akal Takht.

The Akali faction owing loyalty to Mr. Badal was conspicuous by its absence, while the president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Mr. Gurcharan Singh Tohra, and his supporters were present. Mr. Tohra neither participated in the meeting at the Akal Takht nor did he address the public gathering. He told reporters that he was there as an ``ordinary humble devotee'' to listen to the message from the Akal Takht.

Later, talking to reporters in his office, the Jathedar said that he had sought a written assurance from Mr. Badal, to avoid confusion and tension, being generated by mischievous elements which had the patronage of the present State Government. He said that today's meeting was concerned about the rising levels of confrontation with the spiritual and temporal authority of the Akal Takht, which according to him could lead to the repeat of the 1978 Baisakhi when 13 Sikhs were killed in a clash with the Nirankaris in Amristar. He reminded at that time also, Mr. Badal was the Chief Minister.

In response to a question, Bhai Ranjit Singh said that any attempt to use force or official machinery to dislodge him from the Akal Takht, would lead to a blood bath, for which the present State Government, especially Mr. Badal would be directly responsible. Quoting the example of the resolutions by 131 members of the SGPC seeking the withdrawal of his edicts, Bhai Ranjit Singh said that there was a well orchestrated conspiracy, through the vested interests holding vital religious posts, to undermine the authority of the Akal Takht. He refused to accept the plea put forward by Mr. Badal that he was not aware of the activities of his loyalists.

The Jathedar said that through his letter to Mr. Badal, he had brought out a planned intrigue by which baseless fears were being raised that the Jathedar was trying to destablise the present State Government. He said that he was neither opposed to the government nor had he ever desired to interfere in its functioning. He expressed concern that this time the Akalis had no excuse for their infighting, unlike previous occasions when they blamed the Congress.

Earlier, addressing the meeting of the religious bodies, the Jathedar defended his December 31 ``Hukumnama'' (edict) by which he had imposed a cease-fire among the rival Akali factions till April 15, to allow smooth conduct of the Khalsa fete. He quoted various documents, where Mr. Badal had directed his own partymen in the SGPC to elect Mr. Tohra as the chief of the body managing apex Sikh shrines for the proper conduct of the Khalsa celebrations. He sought to know how he was playing a partisan role when he was implementing the programme and directions of the Chief of the Akali Dal.

The Jathedar countered the charge that he was interfering in the internal affairs of the Akali party, which according to him belonging to entire Sikh community, the safeguarding of whose interests was part of the duties of the Akal Takht. He lambasted the Jalandhar based newspaper baron and Rajya Sabha member, Mr. Barjinder Singh Hamdard, for a vilification campaign against the Akal Takht. He ridiculed that the same person was the chief adviser of Mr. Badal.

The Jathedar demanded that April 14, the Baisakhi Day, which is the birthday of the Khalsa, should be kept only for the general public as VVIP movement would hinder the devotees from paying their obeisance. He opined that the occasion should be utilised by the Sikh community to chalk out an appropriate programme for its better future.

Through other resolutions the recent attacks on the minorities, especially the Christians were condemned severely. It was recalled that Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, sacrificed his life to protect the Hindu religion. Another resolution sought from the Union as well as the governments of different states to immediately release all Sikh prisoners to allow them to participate in the Khalse fete. Yet another resolution declared that the historic three-day festival of Holla Mollah would be celebrated from March 1, in accordance with traditional Sikh calendar.