By: Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer Professor of Sikh Studies
Though Bhai Manjit Singh had not met with much success at Amritsar, he tried once again at Delhi, On May 11, 1994, the members of the Deli Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) passed a ‘unanimous resolution giving authority to Bhai Manjit Singh to choose the new executive unanimously. It was here that Rachhpal Sinh, who had been excommunicated from Sikh Panth, handed over a letter to the caretaker of Akal Takht Sahib giving him a chance to present his case before Takht Sahib. On May 15, Bhai Manjit Singh held it’s with the members of the DGPC at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, On May 17, Rachhpa) Singh appeared before Bhai Manjit Singh, The Iater asked him to appear at Akal Takht Sahibon May 24, 1994.
During this period Amarjit Grewal published an article in a journal “Vismand Nand,” This article attacked several Sikh {institutions and the basic postulates of the Sikh philosophy, On May 19, Bhai Manjit Singh appointed a three member Committee to study Amarject’s article. The organization, to which Amarjit Grewal ‘belonged, had also convened a congregation under the banner of “Sikh Sammelan” from October 26 to 30 at village Jaw addi. The same day he declared that the “Sikh Sammmelan” will be managed by Aksl Takht Sahib, The next day the manager of Tawaddi Center wrote all tier of six pages to Bhai Manjit Singh (it was widely believed that this letter had been written by Jasbir Kaur and Amarjeet Grewal) and announced the cancellation of the controversial function, The letter alleged that he and Jasbir Kaur (his associate) were being forced to dismiss Amarject Grewal’s services but they had refused to do the same, This was a clear rejection of the authority of Bhai Maniit Singh.
On May 21, 1994, Bhai Manjit Singh appointed Bhai Manjit Singh Calcutta (former President of Sikh Students” Federation) as the President of DPC, Other office bearers were: Dr. Jaspal Singh, vicepresident, Surjit Singh, Junior vice-president, Nirwair Singh, general secretary and Kulmohan Singh, joint secretary.
On May 25, 1994 Rachhpal appeared at ‘Akal Takht Sahib to apologies, He was told (o perform religious services for 21 days in the Gurdwaras. Rachhpal Singh accepted the order of Akal Takht Sahib, He performed services for five days but on June 1, 1994, under the instructions of Delhi regime, he made a very critical statement against Bhai Manjit Singh. The next day Bhai Manjit Singh issued a Hukammama asking the Sikhs for the s0cial boycott of Rachhpal, Reacting to this Rachhpal said that Manjit Singh was an employee of the SGPC and his so-called Hukamnama was just “fraud,” Sikh Students Federation (Mehta group) asked Bhai Manjit Singh not to indulge in dirty politics and rather resign his office. On June 16, 1994, a meeting to discuss the anti-Sikh article by Amarjeet Grewal, was held in Bhai Gurdas Hall in Darbar Sahib Complex (not at Akal Takht Sahib). The meeting was attended by some Sikh academicians, Amarjeet Grewal was cross examined by the Sikh scholars. Amarjeet Grewal told the gathering that he had read out the same article at a function about six months earlier. Satbir Singh (former Principal) Chairman of Dharam Parchar Committee of the SGPC was present there but he did not say anything because he had been given a lot of money by the organizers of the function. Amarjeet Grewal, however, could not present any other argument. The Sikh scholars proved that Amarjeet Singh’s article was an attack on the Sikh ideology. The only person to support Amarjeet was Dr. Gummam Kaur of Patiala (It was observed by some Sikhs that she had dyed her hair, which is an unSikh like act). Finally, Amarjeet accepted the allegations against him. Bhai Manjit Singh told Amarjeet never to publish a blasphemous article again. It is strange that Bhai Manjit Singh did not order the confiscation of Amarjcet’s article, Secondly, no punishment was given. (Amarject Grewal repeated the same attacks on the Sikh ideology in another article in daily Ajit in September 1994), ‘The difference in the cases of Piar Singh and Amarject Grewal was conspicuous.
On June 25, 1994, Pashaura Sinh made a dramatic appearance at Akal Takht Sahib. He was cross-examined by some Sikh intellectuals present in the meeting. Pashaura continued discussing non issues for eight hours and walked out of the an meeting three times He finally agreed’ to apologies and read out a statement in English (It is widely believed that the statement was prepared by McLeod), The ‘Sikh scholars said the statement was confusing. Pashaura insisted that he would not change the statement he had brought with him from the USA and if he was compelled to change it he would walk out and return to the USA. Pashaura left the meeting three times and consulted with Amarjcet Grewal another associate who were waiting outside. Finally, he surrendered, accepted the five allegations leveled against him and made an unqualified apology. Giving his decision, ManjitSingh asked Pashaura to perform religious services for five days. Bhai Manjit Singh, in this case too, did not order him to withdraw his thesis, make corrections, get it approved from Akal Takht Sahib and resubmit it o the University, Instead, Bhai Manjit Singh asked Pashaura Sinh not to publish it in book form without making corrections. This was the same that Pashaura had offered in his reply to the summons from Akal Takht Sahib, It seems that everything had already been agreed to between Bhai Manjit Singh and Pashaura Sinh. According to Sikh sources Bhai Manjit Singh had been approached through Jasbir Kaur Swaddi and some other persons?
To be continued…..
Article extracted from this publication >> July 14, 1995
