ONTARIO: Singh Sahib Prof. Manjit Singh, Head Minister Sri Akal Takht, Amritsar has been visiting North American to a it end “International Sikh Conferences” Hold at various cities, The Conference in New York was held on July 8-11 and in the Dixie Road Sikh Temple in Mississauga on July 1517, 1994. (Full report of the Conference will be published in due course).
On July 18, 1994, Singh Sahib met the Media in the Dixie Sikh Temple in Mississauga. The press conference was quite informative and lively. The “Punjabi Media was introduced by Kuldeep Deepak of Punjab Dee Goonj and the “Sikh Media” was represented by Singh Hansara of Ankhocla Punjab. AS requested, the Minister threw considerable light on the circumstances leading to the exoneration of Buta Singh and Pashaura Singh, Kanwar Singh’s debut (and his two. letters), and the attempts teading to the solidarity of all the Akali factions, Including the back-tracking of the Badal Group. He was conscious of all the malicious propaganda made against his person and the authority of the Akal Takht Sahib. But he assured all that the full record of all the episodes was preserved on the tapes and for the enlightenment of the public, it would publish very soon.
He lamented that the derogatory aspect of the news has always been presented to the public and for this he cited the media in the Punjab. He expressed that, to large extent, the media there did not favor the just Sikh Cause. He deplored the lack of genuine Sikh Press in India. In the Second place he disapproved the factional policies of the Sikh leadership. In case of solidarity campaign he felt an active hand of external deviational governmental and other agencies. Such mechanisms did not want the Panth to become a solid decisive force.
He did not want to enter into the controversy of the supremacy of either Akal Takht Sahib or the Surbat Khalsa. However, he did explain how the concept of Sarbat Khalsa was conceived, and this tradition was promulgated in the 18th century (whereas the Akal Takht was established by Guru Hargobind in the 17th century).
On the prejudicial attitude of Sikh Gurdwaras in Canada, towards the certain section of the media, Singh. Sahib in stressed reconciliation in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib and in the light of its teachings: Rather, at a length, Ne signified the need of such criteria for the solution of all the afflictions, (in this context it is worth noting that both the factions of the “Media” decided to meet later in the presence of Singh Suhibrostrive for a ‘compromise.”) The complaint, that Very little help Was accorded to the cause and uplift of the Sikh youth from the Gurdwaras, received overwhelming bearing from Singh Sahib, He advised the youth to stand on their own feel and offered them full cooperation from the Institute of Akal Takht, He asked them to contact him directly for any moral and physical guidance.
The position of the Akal Takht and its Jathedar (Head Minister) is unique and irrevocable in the Sikh psyche, at the end I must add that some of the vocabulary used, in the presence of the representative of the highest spiritual and temporal scat of the Sikhism, lacked reverence. A few of the comments were derogatory, questioned the honorability of the most revered Sikh institution, and demeaned the worthiness of the Press.
by: Pritpal Singh Bindra
Article extracted from this publication >> July 29, 1994
