PATIALA: The Jathedar of the ‘Akal Takht, Professor Manjit ‘Singh, in an open letter, addressed ‘to the confronting Akalis, has warmed that their actions causing hurdles in the way of unity and attacks on the prestige of the highest Sikh religious and temporal seat will not be tolerated any more. Releasing this in a two page typed letter to the media hurriedly called press conference here, last week, Prof Manjit Singh said some per sons had been attacking the Akal Takht by using “mischievous vocabulary against it such as “confused,” “playing partisan role to benefit a particular Akali faction’ and “self-contradictory,” etc. He said such terminology was being used by persons who claimed to be Sikh intellectuals or Akalis, with enormous regard for Sikh values and traditions. But in fact those who had been issuing statements against the prestige of the Akal Takht were neither Sikhs by conviction nor did they understand the tenets of Sikh religion, maintained Professor Manjit Singh. The Akal Takht jathedar who appeared to be upset over the statements of various Akali leaders and others said, “I, as a true servant of Khalsa panth, have no role or share in the game of politics infected by vested interests.” He maintained that the Sikh politicians were a part of the panth but those working to divide the Sikh panth neither adhered to Sikh tenets nor had any love for the Sikh community. Similar sentiments had already been expressed in my earlier letter to the panth, said the jathedar.
The process for the unity of Akalis was started six months back. Stating this, Prof Manjit Singh said that the process was still in progress. Keeping this in view, the jathedar said he had written a letter to the Akali Dal (Badal) chief early this month. He said that he had no attachment with any political party. But I will not tolerate defaming of the Sikh sangat by politics. “It will not be tolerated even if one has to pay a price,” warned the jathedar.
The jathedar further stated one might contest any number of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections, or for that matter, any other election, but he could not be a silent spectator to attempts to insult each other. And only antireligious leaders could indulge in such an act, said the jathedar, Prof Manjit Singh has urged the Sikh sangat to compel those’ leaders’ “who ‘claim themselves to be Sikhs working for the Panth to formulate a methodology for forging unity among the various factions. Anyone coming in the way of the process of unity would be considered “guilty” in the eyes of the panth.
As a humble servant of the Akal Takht and Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, said Prof Manjit Singh, I have awakened the Sikh leaders about their responsibility to the Sikh panth. Any leader ignoring this warning would be interpreted as having turned his back to Sikh religion with no regard for the sentiments of the Sikh community.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 2, 1994
