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| NCM Chairman Tarlochan Singh |
Amritsar Sahib (KP) — During celebrations of the 400th Parkash Divas of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat wing of the Rashtrya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attempted to insult Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji by 'labeling' Guru Sahib as a Hindu Granth and purposely misinterpreted Gurbani and Sikh ideals. They had also planned a march onto Sri Akal Takht Sahib, with blessings from Akali Dal (Badal), which was subsequently thwarted by Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Panthic bodies. After consultation with Panthic organizations, Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti released a memorandum of boycott against the RSS and Rashtrya Sikh Sangat, highlighting that all Sikh organizations, jathebandis, societies and Gurdwaras should not support them in any way.
A year later, the Rashtrya Swayamsevak Sangh and its offspring the Rashtrya Sikh Sangat are at it again. This time with help from officials of the central government and SGPC employees sympathetic to the Sangh's cause. One person whose has come up is National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Chairman Tarlochan Singh. Easily recognizable by his curiously jet-black beard, Singh has been attempting to dabble in Sikh politics since his appointment to the Commission in early 2003. This time he is playing the role of matchmaker between the Sangh and the Takht Jathedars. Panthic Weekly has obtained access to photocopies of letters exchanged with the RSS, NCM chairman, and Jathedar Vendanti's assistant Prithipal Singh Sandhu.
In August of 2005, when Shahbaaz Khalsa, the public wing of GURSIKH, exposed Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee's (DSGMC) publication of the blasphemous book "Guru Gobind Gita", they released a letter written by NCM Chairman urging the DSGMC to publish the book. Panthic Weekly has obtained a copy of a letter written by the same Chairman Tarlochan Singh to Jathedar Vendanti's assistant Prithipal Singh Sandhu asking for a review of the boycott action against the RSS. This letter was sent as a cover letter to Mr. Sandhu along with a "plea" from Rashtrya Sikh Sangat president Gurcharan Singh Gill that the Sangh be allowed to partake in the upcoming 300th anniversary celebrations of Guru Granth Sahib Ji's Gur-Gaddee Divas. Gill mentions in this letter that their mother organization Rashtrya Swayamsevak Sangh now "respects" and "recognizes" the separate identity of the Sikhs and such statements were made in the presence of the NCM.
Furthermore, Gill stated that, along with spreading the message of Sikhism to millions of people, they have actively worked to remove their Sikh 'brothers' from the central government's infamous blacklist, and have worked towards getting innocent Sikh youths released from Indian prisons.
It is obvious from the above facts that the RSS is willing to say and do anything to have the boycott against them removed, and it should be interesting to find out how far people like the Tarlochan Singh and Prithipal Singh Sandhu are willing to go in opening up Panthic affairs to their Biparvadee masters.
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| Letters |
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Tarlochan Singh's Cover Letter |
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RSS Letter to Vedanti's Secretary(Original) |
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RSS Letter to Vedanti's Secretary(Retyped) |
GURSIKH (Amritsar) and the Khalsa Alliance (USA), are two Sikh organizations who have worked together in the past in countering attacks from spiritually empty 'intellectuals', 'scholars', and nastics. Jointly, they have also exposed many pro-Biparvadi, anti-Panthic individuals and institutions, along with those undermining the unique character, identity and sovereign rights of the Sikh nation. Since the mid 1990's activists of the GURSIKH organization have succeeded in their mission of alerting the Sikh leadership and the Panth at large in reference to the scandals of Kala-Afghana, Chandigarh Spokesman, Bhani Murti, Guru Gobind Gita, Chela Ram, and various RSS fiascos. Along with presentations, books and ongoing articles, the GURSIKH organization has openly challenged the likes of Sudarshan, Parveen Togria, and the Bajrang Dal in their meddling of internal Sikh affairs.
In a telephone conversation with the Mukh-Sevadaar of GURSIKH, Bhai Ratinder Singh stated to Panthic Weekly that "our struggle with the Sangh continues, we are not satisfied with just a (boycott) memorandum. We want that a Hukamnama be released from Akal Takht Sahib that no Sikh should keep any "roti-beti" (social or family) relations with any member of the Sangh or any member of its suborganization.
Other allegations made by GURSIKH included:
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Jathedar Vedanti's personal assistant Prithipal Singh Sandhu is in constant communication with Sangh leaders and representatives. They are visiting each other constantly.
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Mr. Sandhu is playing a key role in having the 2004 boycott memorandum voided.
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The files and records of the previously mentioned five member committee have disappeared, and RSS agent Rulda Singh is involved in this cover-up.
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Rulda Singh's main agenda included wooing so-called ex-militants and pseudo-Khalistanis into the Biparvadi fold.
Bhai Amardeep Singh, a member of the Khalsa Alliance, reacted sharply upon learning about these developments. He stated: "We have nothing against any particular community or religion, but these groups (RSS, et. al) preach nothing but hatred and violence against minorities and attempt to undermine the basic fundamentals of our Panth. We have nothing in common with them and we will hold our leaders accountable and caution them to not take any drastic steps in allowing these anti-Sikh elements into the internal affairs of our faith."
Background on 2004 Yatra plans
On the 1st of September 2004 the RSS had planned to conduct a yatra (procession) to 'celebrate' the 400 Parkash Divas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and it was to conclude directly outside of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. This was not only a denigrating attempt to overtake Panthic celebrations at Spiritual and Temporal Seat of Sikhism but also an arrogant challenge to the Sikh identity. GURSIKH, Khalsa Alliance, and other Panthic organizations quickly mobilized their efforts in alerting the Panth leadership about the Sangh plans.
A committee comprising of five Gursikhs, including one member from the GURSIKH organization, was setup to look into the above mentioned Rashtrya Sikh Sangat controversy. For three days, debates were held at Sri Akal Takht Sahib between committee members and several so-called 'scholars' sent on behalf of the Rashtrya Sikh Sangat. Twenty points of objection and ten specific demands were raised by the committee members for the Rashtrya representatives, but not a single point was addressed satisfactorily by them. Additionally, they offered no confidence in meeting any of the demands, especially the one asking them to break all ties with their mother organization, the anti-Panthic Rashtrya Swayamsevak Sangh Making no headway, in sheer embarrassment, the representatives agreed that in the future they would not rake over such controversies in Sikh affairs. Immediately after this occurrence, the memorandum of boycott was released from Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
During the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth, GURSIKH organized slide shows and seminars exposing the current harmful activities and the real hidden agenda of the RSS. These presentations were held in various cities across India, and were well attended by the Sikh community. Threatened by their exposure, the Sangh and its allies now view GURSIKH and other pro-Panthic organizations as their key adversaries.
Intentionally, the RSS has forgotten the promises their representatives had made at Sri Akal Takht Sahib in September 2004. In reality this was one of few times that Sangh members openly debated with Panthic individuals on a level playing field, only to walk away stunned, and in utter dismay. The Sangh would rather not be reminded of that day. Once again, they are attempting to test the steel of Sikhi. They need to be reminded that the "Pecheedeh-Maar" (coiled-cobra) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji still lives and breathes amongst us.
Copy of 2004 Akal Takht memorandum is available on Khalsa Alliance's web site : http://www.khalsaalliance.org/news.php?pagename=index&article=18
2004 Anti-RSS online petition by Khalsa Alliance. http://www.khalsaalliance.org/news.php?pagename=index&article=19
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