Amritsar Sahib, Punjab (KP) - Two separate legal notices were served by the GURSIKH organization and its mukh-sevadar Bhai Ratinder Singh to individuals who placed an advertisement and an article attempting to defame the character of both the organization and its mukh-sevadar. At the same time, GURSIKH has charged that the Gurmat Pustak Bhandar owners have distributed a forged publication with objectionable material under the name of “Sura” and the Akhand Kirtani Jatha to further malign these Panthic sevadaars.
Initial ‘Singh Garj’ Advertisement
Last month, an advertisement appeared in the magazine “Singh Garj” along with an article titled “Khalsa Panth Nu Hinduwad Di Chatar-Budhi Ton Suchet Hon Di Loarr” in “Khalsa Khandaydhar” that attempted to tarnish the image of Bhai Ratinder Singh and the GURSIKH organization. Interestingly, both magazines are published by the factions of the Damdami Taksal. Bhai Ratinder Singh, who spent years in Tihar Prison, and has faced unimaginable torture, helped lead the GURSIKH organization on many Panthic fronts, and has spearheaded campaigns against anti-Panthic elements such as Kala Afghana, Chandigarh Spokesman, Bhani Murti, Chela Ram, and the RSS.
The first Legal Notice was served to the following individuals:
Sukhprit Udkhoke, Giani Ram Singh, Rajandeep Singh, Gurlal Singh, Balwant Singh, Baljit Singh Ragi (all of “Singh Garj Monthly”), Giani Amritpal Singh, Angrez Singh Chabba, Ramandeep Singh Bhangchari, Walia Computers, Sukhdev Singh, Dilbag Singh Nagoke (Taksali Book Shop, #31), Sandeep Kaur Kashtiwal, Baljit Singh Khalsa, and Ranjit Singh (FatehNama), Karandeep Singh Gurdaspur, NS Chaura, Shamsher Singh Doomewal, Charanjit Singh Gharianwala, Rajwinder Singh Raju, Inderjit Singh Gogoani, Harbir Singh Sandhu, Wariam Singh, Shamsher Singh Jethuwal, Skiander Singh Jethuwal, Amanjit Singh Chandigarh, Gurmukh Singh Batala, Gurbinder Singh Amritsar, Gurnam Singh Bandala.
The second Notice on behalf of the GURSIKH organization was sent to:
(1) Harnam Singh, Head of DamDami Taksal,
(2) Bhai Mohkam Singh Editor Khandaydhar,
(3) Sukhprit Udkhoke,
(4) Dashmesh Printing Press, Jalandhar (owned by Jasbir Singh Rode).
The Notices asserted that the above named committed to defame the clients via the advertisement and charges that Khandaydhar on pages 34 ad 35 of their February edition, printed a part of series by Udhoke “who is known for his anti-panthic activities at large and against whom four applications of one case are pending for adjudication before the Honorable Akal Takhat Sahib Ji at Harminder Sahib. Amritsar.”
The second Notice goes on to to further state that :
“...you, the addressee No.3 (Udhoke) is also presently actively involved in mischievous and nefarious activities by openly propagating against the interest of Sikhs Religion and on the other hand showing himself to be the savior of the Sikh principles and ideology and pretending falsely for saving the Sikh community from the anti Panthic forces.”
According to some of the individuals named in the initial Notice, some stated that the advertisement was printed without their permission; others under legal pressure have signaled their willingness to ask for forgiveness and apologize publicly for their involvement in this smear campaign of these dedicated Panthic individuals.
Counterfeit copies of Sura
On February 26 of 2006, Bhai RP Singh, a member of the 11-member executive committee of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha (AKJ) was contacted by Taksal sevadaars claiming that Bhai Ratinder Singh and the AKJ had published a series of articles against Giani Ram Singh Ji, and Sukhdev Singh of the Gurmat Pustak Bhandar.
Bhai Ratinder Singh knew that no such publication has been printed by them. He immediately realized that this was a plot schemed by those who has printed similar matter against him and the GURSIKH organization in ‘Singh Garj’ and ‘Khalsa Khandaydhar’, namely Sukhdev Singh and the Sukhpreet Udhoke group.
'SINGH GARJ' Duped by Mischevious Elements
Bhai Ratinder Singh then contacted Rajandeep Singh, son of Giani Ram Singh. He indicated that Giani Ji was in possession of a copy of Sura with objectionable material. Giani Ji at that time was traveling on a parchar tour and asked Bhai Ratinder Singh to contact his Singhni who would know the whereabouts of this issue of Sura. Bhai Ratinder Singh then contacted the Singhni of Giani Ram Singh, and found out that she had one copy of an issue of Sura which was given to her by Sukhdev Singh of the Gurmat Pustak Bhandar.
Ram Singh's wife indicated that Sukhdev Singh had dropped off the issue and that they were taken aback by its contents. She said one of the articles claimed that Giani Ram Singh Ji was an RSS agent, and that he was paid off by the RSS. She also stated that magazine had Bhai Ratinder Singh as the Chief Editor, and contained several articles by written by members of the GURSIKH organization, such as Amardeep Singh ‘Amar’ and others.
Bhai Ratinder Singh clarified to her, that neither Akhand Kirtani Jatha nor the GURSIKH organization publishes Sura anymore, nor have they written any of those objectionable articles. This was clearly a counterfeit copy of Sura, which was illegally printed to cause friction and chaos.
Bhai Ratinder Singh also contacted Sukhdev Singh of the Gurmat Pustak Bhandar in Amritsar, who had reportedly delivered the issue to Giani Ji’s home. Sukhdev Singh denied ever giving Giani Ram Singh Ji’s Singhni a copy of Sura, and pleaded ignorance. Interestingly, Sukhdev Singh is not a stranger to such controversy, not long ago; he admitted distributing pamphlets under the title of “Quami Wasta”, which charged that Bibi Sandeep Kaur of the Dharam Singh Khalsa Charitable Trust was pilfering money under guise of an orphanage. Extracts of this pamphlet were later published in magazine “India Awareness.”
Since Giani Ram Singh was not feeling well due to heart complications, GURSIKH did not pursue the matter directly with Giani Ji, but have made it clear with his family that they are not responsible for printing such material, and that someone was misusing their name for an evil intent. GURSIKH mentioned that they have always respected Giani Ram Singh Ji and his family and have always been on good terms with them.
GURSIKH representatives have contacted newspapers such as ‘The Tribune’ and ‘Nava Zamana’ and have given them press statements on this matter; they question why is the Punjab Police and the Vigilance Department so silent on this issue. Nevertheless, they are requesting for the full prosecution of those involved in this conspiracy and are confident that the real culprits behind this anti-Panthic scheme will be exposed in due time.
