Amritsar Sahib (KP) – Tensions erutped between Sikh organizations and Panthic leaders at a recently organized program in memory of Shaheed Bhai Balkar Singh. Bhai Balkar Singh was killed by security guard of cultist Gurmeet Ram Rahim outside a shopping complex in Bombay last month.
The program to commemorate the martyrdom of Bhai Balkar Singh, was held at his ancestral village of Jamarai. It was attended by all major Sikh organizations, including Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Damdami Taksal, Sikh Student Federations, Shiromani Akali Dal (A), and Shiromani Akal Dal (PP) to honor the family of Bhai Balkar Singh. The bhog of Akhand Path Sahib in memory of Shaheed Bhai Balkar Singh was concluded in the morning and kirtan was performed by the Hazoori Ragi Bhai Narinder Singh Banaras.
Control of Program Stage
As political leaders were about to address the assembled Sangat, tensions between the SGPC staff and other organizations became evident when activists disputed to take control of the stage functions. While the SGPC wanted to run the program according to its own procedures, the Damdami Taksal activists (Dhumma faction) wanted to run the ceremonies according to their own maryada.
A speech by SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar was noticeably short as he felt uncomfortable due to the fact that the SGPC had failed to take control of the program stage.
Despite the tensions, organizations presented over Rs. 1 lakh to the mother of Bhai Balkar Singh and announced that her son was a martyr of the Sikh Nation. Furthermore, Makkar, announced that a portrait of Bhai Balkar Singh would be installed at the Sikh Ajaib Ghar (Central Sikh Museum) in Sri Amritsar.
Other Sikh leaders also presented financial aids to the family and pledged to help the family in all possible ways. S. Simranjit Singh Mann also addressed the Sangat and shared some strong views on Khalistan, and spoke about the necessity of having a separate Sikh State.
Sardar Mann & Jathedar Vedanti Clash
After Sardar Mann's speech, an unsavory situation developed when Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti spoke on stage and criticized some of the remarks made by Sardar Mann. Vedanti's criticism of Mann was quickly cut short when Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar activits began to drown out his speech with slogans of "Khalistan Zinabad", and eventually forced him down from the podium. The whole incident resulted in chaos in which Punjab Police officials had to intervene and escort the Jathedar to safety.
Speaking with the press, spokespersons of Sikh Student Federation (Peer Mohammed) told that Jathedar Vedanti had tried to cause confusion with the Sikh Sangat regarding the Khalistan movement and views of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale. Several of the present organizations upheld that until Jathedar Vedanti clears his stance regarding views of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and Khalistan, he would not be allowed to address sangat at Panthic programs.
Much to the scorn of the ruling Akali Dal Badal leadership, during Vedanti's recent visit to United States and England, the Jathedar had tried to win support of pro-Khalistan organizations by sharing favorable views on the concept of a independent Sikh state on public stages. Recently however, he was been trying to distance himself from those remarks.
