LUDHIANA: The process for the SGPC elections has begun. Many Sikh groups are gearing up to contest the elections under one banner and also form a new political force to look after the interests of the Sikhs.

Mr. Simranjit Singh Mann has al- ready announced his decision to participate in the elections. The Akali Dal headed by Parkash Singh Badal is also preparing for the same.

The new political force is likely to emerge after Divali. An indication to this effect was given here last week by Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, who claims to be the Jathedar of Akal Takht. According to Bhai Jasbir Singh efforts will be made to unite the Sikh leaders. He said the leaders stood disunited owing to the “inexperience” of Mr. Mann.

It is learnt that the Gurmit Sidhant Pracharak Singh Samaj, an organization of Sikh saints numbering more than 350 and commanding a sizeable following among the Sikhs, is also taking an interest in the unity efforts. Badal and Mann have already met functionaries of the Sant Samaj and sought their cooperation.

The Sant Samaj is toying with the idea of setting up a political wing to jump in to the poll fray. Its leadership is much agitated over the treatment meted out to it by the SGPC during the World Sikh Sammelan organized last month at Amritsar.

The Sant Samaj had boycotted the Sammelan as the SGPC refused to accept its conditions for participation. The Sant Samaj was also attacked at the sammelan.

Bhai Jasbir Singh said that he continued to be the Jathedar of Akal Takht. He admitted that the controversy over the Takht chief had given a setback to the supremacy of Akal Takht. Asked what the solution was, he said both he and the acting Jathedar appointed by the SGPC should resign. Anyway, the SGPC elections would help resolve the issue.

Bhai Jasbir Singh said he accepted the SGPC as the representative of the Sikhs but the present SGPC had completed its tenure and had, thus, out- lived its existence. The Jathedar of Akal Takht ought not to be an employee of the SGPC as was provided in the Gurdwara Act, he emphasized. Bhai Jasbir Singh called upon the Sikhs to participate in the “amrit abhilakhi” Khalsa march being launched by the Damdami Taksal in cooperation with the Sant Samaj at Fatehgarh Sahib from October 21 to 23. The march would conclude at Akal Takht.

Another Khalsa march started from Gwalior on Oct.15 which was headed by the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Manjit Singh. The march was held to celebrate the release of Guru Hargobind from the Gwalior jail.

Bhai Jasbir Singh said the World Sikh Sammelan had failed to serve any useful purpose as it was not fully representative in character. Yet a huge amount had been spent on it.

He said all Sikh organizations had not been invited to the sammelan. Badal was the only leader invited and he too had opposed the resolutions passed at the sammelan.

A meeting of the Gurmit Sidhant Pracharak Sant Samaj was held at Gurdwara Damdama Ashthan Baba Sahib Singh Bedi Mansuran, 15 km from here last week.

It discussed the political situation in view of the proposed SGPC elections. Meanwhile, the Sikh Students Federation (Mehta), president, Rajinder Singh Mehta, and Amarjit Singh Chawla, general secretary, has ex- tended support to the Khalsa march being launched by the Damdami Taksal.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 20, 1995