LUDHIANA: With just about one week to go for the five-day world Sikh sammelan being organized at Amritsar under the aegis of Akal ‘Takht, the SGPC’s is beset with many problems which need settlement before the sammelan begins, ‘The first and foremost is the dispute with the Gurmit Sidhant Pracharak Sant Samaj, an organization of Sikh saints which has called for the resolution of the issue of “Rehat Maryada,” the appointment of the Jathedar of Akal Takht acceptable to all Sikh organizations and the recognition of the Sant Samaj as an organization, The other issue is the resolution sent by the president of the USA based, Council of Khalistan, Dr. Gurmit a contrary to the statement by the President of the SGPC, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, that Dr. Aulakh has not been invited for tion in the Sikh sammelan, Dr. Aulakh received a letter from Manjit Singh Calcutta inviting him to participate in the world Sikh sammelan being held from September 21-25. Dr, Aulakh is understood to have spoken to Calcutta on phone and also sent his reply to him on August 16, He has sent a formal resolution which be moved at the sammelan.

Thirdly, a section of Sikh intellectuals is unhappy with the acting Jathedar ‘of Akal Takht, Prof. Manjit Singh, who in his five page circular to all Sikh organizations inviting them to participate in the sammelan hesitated that the sammetan is being organized by the SGPC in cooperation with the Vismadnad,’ an organization headed by Baba Sucha Singh of Gurdwara Gur Gyan Parkash, Jawaddi Kalan, Ludhiana.

The Sikh intellectuals who have their headquarters at Chandigarh have opposed the association of Baba Sucha Singh with the sammelan. The Vismadnad’ journal carried an article which allegedly had derogatory references to the Guru Granth Sahib and the author of the article, Amarjit Singh Grewal, was summoned at Akal ‘Takhtand the distribution of the journal was banned by Akal Takht.

Byen the Gurmit Sidhant Pracharak Sant Samaj has taken exception active participation of Baba Sucha Singh in the sammelan and has asked the Baba to dissociate himself from the ‘same if he wants to remain in the Sant Samaj.

Tohra held lengthy rounds of talks with the representatives of the Sant ‘Samaj at Gurdwara Damdama Asthan Baba Sahib Singh Bedi, Mansuran (Ludhiana), last week on the issue of Rehat Maryada’ and other issues raised by the Sant Samaj. But the talks remained inconclusive.

Tohra said he had offered to set up a committee which could go into the matter as the “Rehat Maryada’ issue could not be settled in one day.

Tohra maintained that the Rehat Maryada’ was formed after 11 years of deliberations. Records pertaining, to the ‘Rehat Maryada’ were taken away by the security forecast the time of Operation Bluestar from the Sikh reference library, he alleged.

The SGPC chief was of the view that the issues should be settled through negotiations and the Sant Samaj should take part in them, ‘The Sant Samaj has taken a rigid stand and wants that the issues should be settled before the start of the world Sikhsammelan, The Sant Samaj leaders are of the view that the SGPC has all along been making a vilification campaign against the saints and now suddenly it has thought of taking them into confidence, First the basic contentious issues needed to be resolved.

Baba Sarbjot Singh Bedi, president, Gurmit Sidhant Pracharak Sant Samaj who is bedridden at his dera in Mansuran following an accident, said that the Sant Samaj was not for confrontation with the SGPC. Rather, it wanted an amicable settlement of all issues.

He pointed out without the settlement of the issues, the participation of the Sant Samaj was not possible. He said that the committee comprising the representatives of the SGPC and the Sant Samaj could discuss the ‘Rehat Maryada’ issue at length but there were other issues like the “moo! mantar’ which could, be decided before the start of the sammelan. According to Baba Bedi, Guru Gobind Singh had recognized five Sikh samparas Sewa Panthis, Normalas, Mani Singh Taksal, Deep Singh ‘Taksal and Udasi Samparda, Deep Singh Taksal is now known as Damdami Taksal which is headed by Baba Thakar Singh while Bhai Mani Singh Taksal is headed by Sant Makhan Singh which is based in ‘Amritsar. Udasi Samparda has weaned away from the Sikhs because of the rigidity of the Sikh leaders on the issue of ‘sehajdharis’ and Gursikhs. ‘The Gurmit Sidhant Pracharak Sant Samaj has a strength of about 350 saints who have their dears in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana and have strong following among the Sikhs.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 22, 1995