By: Dr, Harjinder Singh Dilgeer Professor of Sikh Stu

land, Canada and USA. This was in fact ‘tour to attend a Hind Festival, held in Roundwood Park, London, from July 30 to August 7, 1994, Mohinder Singh and Jaswant S, Neki, the pro-Indian group had maneuvered to have Bhai Manjit Singh join the festival, Later, Bhai Manjit Singh added Canada and USA to his schedule, During his stay, Bhai Manjit Singh stayed atthe Grims Duke Hotel, a five star hotel in north London, He did not meet the Sikh leaders of England. Bhai Maniit Singh  made just three visit to Gurdwaras in nine days and stayed throughout the time there in his Hotel or with the Hindi leaders, under the leadership of Mr. Murari Bapu, The Hinda festival was not open to the Sikh public and only four or five persons ‘with turbans could be seen at the function. These five were the pro-Indian regime ‘writers, The High Commissioner of India was special guest throughout the festival ‘and Bhai Manjit Singh was a secondary invites, There were allegations that Bhai Manjit Singh’s tour was a part of the maneuvering of the Indian Intelligence Dr. Jagjit Singh Chauhan, in a signed letter, said that Indian Intelligence had arranged the tour and a letter in that regard siad been sent to the Indian Embassy in London, The Indian Government, on Au: gust 21, 1994, refuted the alleged tetteris strange that the Indian authorities were so quick to refute the otter, whereas, in the case of the Sikhs, the Indian authorities, usually keep silent), Bhai Manjit Singh may have unknowingly become a party to this conspiracy. Later, in the last week of August, Bhai Manjit Singh, in a statement issued to Patiala said that his tour was purely religious and he had gone there to finalize the list of the 500 Sikhs to be honored at the World Sikh Meet. Strange it was that Bhai Manjit Singh did not meet any Sikh in England and/or the rest of Europe and yet he was capable of finalizing his list.

On September 2, 1994, Dr. Gurmit Singh ‘Aulakh, the “National Diplomat of The Sikh Nation,” urged Bhai Manjit Singh to “Stand up for Khalistan or stand down,” Dr. Aulakh had written several letter to Bhai Manjit Singh to take up the Sikh issue like a true Sikh, Dr. Aulakh has been successfully in presenting the Sikh case before the world community. Earlier it was due to his efforts that President Bill Clinton expressed his concerns over the Sikh nation’s rights. It was Dr. Aulakh, who had disclosed, on July 6, 1994, that the Afghanistan Government recognized the Sikhs nation’s righto self-determination. But, Bhai Manjit Singh did not have the courage to proclaim anything. His silence about the Sikh situation, the Sikh prisoners, the killing of thousands of innocent Sikhs, sacrilege of the Sikh shrines, persecution of the Sikhs, the rights of the Sikh nation ete, surprises students of Sikh polity. He claims himself to be a caretaker of Akal Takht Sahib, the supreme most seal of the Sikh nation and still makes such statements as “my mission was only religious” etc., For the caretaker of Akal Takht Sahib, religion and politics are two separate issues. Bhai Manjit Singh has been avoiding religious issues also, He has never come up with a definite and decisive statement about Rehat Maryada, and it is this indifference of the caretaker that these sadhus (who are Hindu rather than Sikh) have been encouraged to harm the Sikh nation.

As an individual, Bhai Manjit Singh seems to be a very weak personality, incapable of taking independent decisions. His statements have been confusing, his actions have been vague, his treatment of the issues had been evasive and his understanding of the concept of Akal Takht ‘Sahib and the Sikh polity (Miri and Piri) is childish, He has been acting as if he was a petty arbitrator of industrial disputes, It is possible that it is because of a weak personality or a case of nerves or any other reason (best known to him or to ‘Wahegumu), In consideration of the concept of Akal Takht Sahib, he looks like an awkward caretaker.

To be continued…

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 21, 1995