AMRITSAR SAHIB, PUNJAB (KP) - In December of 1981, the head of the psuedo-Nirankari cult Hardev Sinh sent a letter to the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Gurdial Singh Ajnoha in hopes of reconciling the 'rift' between his cult and the Sikh Panth.
Sri Akal Takht Sahib rejected the Nirankari chief’s plea and offer for reconciliation. The horrible events of Vaisakhi 1978, when thirteen Gursikhs were brutally massacred in the city of Amritsar Sahib, could not be easily forgotten, the Jathedar Gurdial Singh Ajnoha stood his ground.
Twenty five years later, the pseudo-Nirankaris are no longer interested in a settlement with the Sikhs, yet the Badal installed priest Joginder Singh Vedanti has openly offered clemency to them and other groups that have caused so much harm to the Sikh panth. Not surprisingly, this move by Vendanti has been strongly criticized and rejected by all Panthic organizations.
The rejection for reconciliation in 1981 and the open clemency offered in 2006 highlights the continuing degradation and elimination of dignity, principles, and honor that has occurred in the Sikh leadership in the short time span of 25 years.
Psuedo-Nirankari Chief Hardev Sinh’s letter to Jathedar Gurdial Singh Ajnoha of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
(English translation provided below)
December 13 1981
Respected Jathedar Ji,
Great is Nirankar
Sardar Bhag Singh, who is a former member of the Assembly had a discussion with me regarding the current situation. He has brought our viewpoints to your attention. Following which the president of the Nirankari Working Committee, Sardar Gobind Singh Ji presented a letter to me, which was from Advocate Manjeet Singh Khaira of Chandigarh. In the letter, Manjeet Singh proposed to me that I should send you a letter highlighting the current issues and suggestions on how to eliminate our differences. Today I met Sardar Manjeet Singh at the Nirankari Bhavan in Delhi. I respect his and your sentiments and on his request, I am sending the following clarifications:
1. We believe that the Sikh Guru Sahibs are incarnations of God, and we hold them in high regard with full faith.
2. We believe that the bani in Guru Granth is ‘Dhur ki Bani’. In having great respect for Guru Granth Sahib we do not hold any enmity toward it or show this in any form. We fully respect Sikh Rehat Maryada and traditions. Therefore, there can be no question of us using foul language against it.
3. The books of the Nirankari Mission, titled Avtar Bani and Yug Pursh were not written to hurt the sentiments of anyone. If the Sikh Sangat is opposed to any points in the books then a joint committee can be formed to correct those points.
After the reading the above clarifications I hope that you will succeed in eliminating the differences between Nirankaris and the Sikh Sangat.
Yours Sincerely
Hardev Singh
(Nirankari Baba)
