Ragi, barely able to keep his turban on, escaping the wrath of the local sangat

KOLKOTA - On January 19th, Ragi Darshan Singh franticly escaped the wrath of the local Sikh community in Asansol, near Kolkota (formerly Calcutta) West Bengal, after they enforced the Sri Akal Takht Sahib directive barring the Ragi from Panthic stages and platforms.  The above video footage details the frantic escape by the Ragi from the ire of the Asansol Sikh community. 

For his safety, the ragi routinely travels with security escorts provided by the State and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.

The Ragi has become a 'persona non grata' after publicly ridiculing the authority of the Sri Akal Takht Sahib, and condemning the sacred Nitnem, Amrit sanchar Banis, and the Sikh Ardaas.

The directive from Sri Akal Takht Sahib states that until the Ragi appears in person for atonement, all Sikh organizations, institutions, and Gurdwaras should not allow the Ragi to utilize their facilities.

However, if the Ragi fails to appear at Sri Akal Takht Sahib by January 29th of 2010, then strict action could be taken according to Panthic norms and traditions – most likely the excommunication from the Sikh Panth.

Ragi has publicly stated that he does not recognize the authority of these Jathedars, and went to the extent of even calling them 'paapi', 'tankhaiay', 'baymukh.'

Initially, the Ragi was directed to appear at Sri Akal Takht Sahib on December 5th, 2009 before the five Singh Sahibans and provide explanation for the offending remarks he had made about Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji at a Rochester, New York Gurdwara.

Having failed to appear on the 5th of December, Sri Akal Takht Sahib then declared the Ragi as a “Guru-Nindak” who, due to ego and self-interest, failed to uphold the respect and maryada of the sacred Takht Sahib.

The Kolkota development is the latest incident in which the directives of Sri Akal Takht Sahib were enforced by the Sikh community by shunning the heretic Ragi.