Amritsar: During the 18th century a rich tradition developed amongst the Sikhs to get together in Amritsar on the occasion of Baisakhi and Bandi Chhor, ignoring their internal differences, in order to discuss the issues concerning the Panth. But now a days the Sikh circles remain divided even on these occasions also. Yesterday’s Bandi Chhor day stood witness to this degeneration as the Sikh groups supporting two sets of Jathedars failed to take any initiative to reconcile in any manner.
On the one hand, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) made heavy security arrangements at Darbar Sahib complex to ‘ensure’ that Giani Gurbachan Singh (SGPC backed Jathedar) delivers his message from Darbar Sahib complex.
On the other hand, the so-termed parallel Jathedar (appointed by Nov. 10, 2015 Panthic gathering at Chabba village) Bhai Dhian Singh Mand delivered his message from Pahuwind, the birth place of Baba Deep Singh Ji. Bhai Dhian Singh Mand had gone underground to avoid arrest by the Punjab police.
As per reports Giani Gurbachan Singh delivered his message in the heavy presence of police personnel in civil dresses, SGPC employees and the representatives of Sikh bodies that are in some sort of alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). It appeared as if the SGPC had handed over the entire arrangements to the Punjab police. Giani Gurbachan Singh was brought to the Darshani Deodi from the Akal Takht secretariat under the protection of a security chain formed by police personnel commanded by an SP rank police official. Even after conclusion of his message he was taken back to the secretariat under police cover.
In their messages, both Giani Gurbachan Singh and Bhai Dhian Singh Mand raised a number of issues concerning the Sikhs and asked Sikhs to follow their ‘directives and suggestions’ for the solution of those issues. But their persistent conduct gives rise to the question that do they ever introspect their own stands and try to form some ‘command line’ to find solution to the situation caused by their stands?