TALWANDI SABO (Bathinda): Oct. 27 in a categorical statement, the Akal Takht Jathedar-designate, Bhai Ranjit Singh, has said that he won’t interfere in Akali politics and hence will hardly make any efforts to forge unity among the various Akali factions, at least the time being. After paying Obeisance at the fourth Takht of the Sikhs, Damdama Sahib, Bhai Ranjit Singh said that bringing unity within the Akali factions was the prerogative of the “Sangat” (congregation). He further said no Akali faction had approached him for bringing complete Panthic unity and he did not want to unnecessarily interfere in this regard as his top priority as Jathedar of the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs would be to propagate the tenets of Sikhism throughout the world. However, he said complete Panthic unity could be brought about gradually. Bhai Ranjit Singh, who was charged with the assassination of the Nirankari chief, Baba Gurbachan Singh in 1980 said he would make sure that the directive of Akal Takht to the members of the community to sever all relations with the members of the Nirankari sect, issued after the Sikh Nirankari clash in which 13 unarmed members of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha led by Mr. Fauja Singh, were killed, was implemented in its totality.
On his meeting with former Union Minister S.S. Ahluwalia, president of the Gurdwara Committee, Patna Sahib, and Bhai Ranjit Singh denied that it was a closed-door meeting as reported in a section of the press. He described the report as baseless and mischievous and aimed at creating confusion. He clarified that being president of the Gurdwara committee of Patna Sahib, Mr. Ahluwalia met him in the presence of many persons, including certain members of the press, in connection with his proposed visit to Patna Sahib. Bhai Ranjit Singh, in response to another question, said that he would sort out all controversies including the ““maryada” issues with the help of all Sikh institutions. He further said that he would convene meetings of representatives of such Sikh institutions to sort out such controversies amicably in the larger interest of the Panth.
In a significant development, Bhai Ranjit Singh is likely to be accepted as Jathedar by all factions, including the Panthic Akali Dal led by Mr. Sant Singh and the Amritsar Akali Dal led by Mr. Simranjit Singh Mann, as representatives of all Akali factions, honored him with “siropas” at Takht Damdama Sahib. The Panthic Akali Dal considers Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, a relative of Sant Jamail Singh Bhindaranwale, as Jathedar of Akal Takht. However, Mr. Harpal Singh Mithu, candidate of the Panthic Akali Dal for the recently held SGPC elections and Circle Jathedar of Bathinda was among those who presented a “siropa” to Bhai Ranjit Singh. The Amritsar Akali Dal was represented by Mr. Simranjit Singh Sekhon, organizing secretary of the party, and Mr. Amritpal Singh Nikai, personal secretary to Mr. Simranjit Singh Mann; this had made it clear that these Akali factions will accept him as “noncontroversial” Jathedar of Akal Takht. Bhai Ranjit Singh also claimed that he had already been accepted by all Akali factions and various Sikh institutions, Representatives of the Shiromani Akali Dal Ied by Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, and many other leaders and representatives of various Sikh institutions from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi presented “Siropas” to Bhai Ranjit Singh.
On the demand of Bhai Kewal Singh, Jathedar Takht Damdama Sahib, Bhai Ranjit Singh said that despite opposition by the government or any other quarter, the university would come into existence at Talwandi Sabo. Earlier while speaking at Damdama, Sahib Bhai Ranjit Singh said that the Ni sect and the then government left no stone unturned for keeping him behind the bars. The pressure from various quarters led to his imprisonment almost near life imprisonment. He said that even the custodians of law and the Constitution had played a partisan role for keeping him in custody for obvious reasons. He said that with the grace of Almighty he was released on bail on the direction of the apex court. “However, the judgment on my case had been kept reserve, though J had spent about 14 years in jail,” “he said, By 1999 when the Sikh Panth would complete its 300 years of existence, Akal Takht would endeavor to baptize ail Sikhs, Bhai Ranjit Singh said that efforts would also be made to keep away Sikhs form all kind of addiction by the tum of the century.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 30, 1996
