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Arya-Samajist Crony of the Ex-communicated editor unleashes attacks on Maryada in his column
Shiromani Akai Dal (A) seeks arrest of Yukta and chief editor Joginder Sawhney
Fatehgarh Sahib (KP) – The Rozana Spokesman Newspaper has since its beginning seen as an axis of attacks on Gurmat traditions and values. The newspaper initially reached the limelight after Kala Afghana was excommunicated from the Khalsa Panth. As motives of Kala Afghana failed deliberately after his excommunication, the Rozana Spokesman strived to keep his ideology alive by spreading the same propaganda.
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"Hari Rattan Yukta is not even a Sikh; he is an Agnostic-Arya Samaji, and a paid 'poodle' of Joginder Sawhney. He has no business telling the Panth what to do and not to do !"
- Khalsa Alliance, USA
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Once again, in efforts to spread the same misinformation on core-values of the Sikh religion, the Rozana Spokesman published a column by ‘Hari Ratan Yukta’ in its April 12 edition. The article can be found titled ‘One Question by a Seeker’ on page 6. The article does its job in posing a question, but in parallel it also works to promote irreverence of Sikh scriptures.
In clear words, Hari Ratan Yukta states that Guru ‘Granth’ Sahib is nothing but a mere book. According to Yukta, Guru Granth Sahib should be given the same respect as followers of other religions cater to their scriptures. Just as Muslims do not bow to the Koran, Christians do not put the Bible to ‘Sukhasan’, Sikhs should also not treat Guru Granth Sahib as the living embodiment of the ten Sikh Gurus. According to Yukta, doing so leaves no difference between the Sikhs and the Hindus who also ‘worship’ statues.
It should be noted that Yukta is not an unbiased reader of this newspaper, he enjoys being on the monthly payroll. Yukta states that according to different religions, obeisance should only be paid to Akal Purakh, bowing down and showing respect to any one is baseless. Without giving any reference, he states that Guru Amardaas Ji abolished the tradition of paying obeisance. In a contradicting statement, he further claims that at no time were Sikhs accustomed to bowing to Guru Sahibs, again without any reference. It is interesting as the writer states that Guru Amardaas Ji abolished a practice that was never in place.
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"Simranjit Singh Mann of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) gave an ultimatum to the Police to arrest Yukta and Sawhney or face consequences."
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It should be kept into mind that not very long ago, the Rozana Spokesman editor Joginder Sawney came into the limelight after allowing his columnist named Harbhajan Sinh publish a very derogatory article on Bhagat Ravidaas Ji. Soon after Panthic Jathebandis took notice of Harbhajan article, Sawney denied any prior knowledge and also upheld that he was unaware of the author’s motives.
Several Panthic Jathebandis have now also taken a strong stance against Spokesman. In particular, S. Simranjit Singh Mann, who has always shown his opposition to the controversial newspaper, announced that his party will use all its might to stop the propaganda of the newspaper. In a joint press release from Quila Harnaam Singh, officials of the party announced that this matter will be addressed from Akal Takht Sahib. Shiromani Akai Dal has pressured for the filing of FIR against Hari Ratan Yukta, and the arrest of Spokesman's chief editor by April 28th.
Sikh organizations should be wary of the intentions of the newspaper behind publishing such articles. Very interestingly, at the end of the article, Hari Ratan Yukta addresses his bias towards the SGPC while stating that it is only the DSGMC that is published after wrongdoings, if the SGPC commits the same mistake, it is never questioned. These comments have come in surprisingly at the same time when Panthic organizations have uncovered a major sacrilege scandal by the DSGMC.
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