Pathic Gathering at Jalandhar
Jalandhar (December 03, 2009): Upset about the over the overall functioning of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the Dal Khalsa along with other Panthic bodies has called for a complete overhaul of the apex body of the Sikhs. In a report card placed before the Panthic gathering convened by the Dal Khalsa here today, party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh Bittu pointed out that the SGPC has failed to achieve the basic purpose of religious propagation that had resulted in spreading of the dera culture. He said that the SGPC was considered as a Parliament of the Sikhs but it has never functioned as such. “We have examined that though the SGPC annually holds two sessions of the general house but hardly any matter related to Sikh Panth has ever been tabled for debate and discussion”.
Analyzing the performance of the SGPC, he concluded that the scheme of nomination of candidates for SGPC is one-sided and based only on political considerations, increased politicization of the institution, delayed elections, no innovative management systems are adopted, members consider SGPC platform as a springboard to enter the Assembly or Parliament were assessed to be certain reasons for the downfall of the institution.
He said the performance of the SGPC was on decline. He said for long, it was the SGPC that guided the Sikh affairs may it be social, religious or political. However, over the years, especially during the recent period, there has been the reversal of roles, especially after the office of the president of the SGPC became subservient to the dictates of the political bosses having their own electoral compulsions. Blaming its leadership for lacking will power and commitment to deliver required results, he said the fate of raising of memorial in memory of June 1984 martyrs adopted by the general house and executive committee still hangs in air.
SAD (Panch Pardani) leader Harpal Singh Cheema said mushrooming of deras and self-styled gurus in the recent past had been having destabilizing effects on the Sikh religion.
Addressing the gathering the party president H S Dhami emphasized the need for structural and organizational changes in the SGPC to overcome its shortcomings. Mr Dhami said it’s ironic that Badal family has established a monopoly on the SGPC. Taking a dig at CM and deputy CM, he alleged that Badalization of SGPC has led to denigration of the Sikh institution. “The father and son, who are devoid of ideology are controlling the institution of historical importance”, he rued. In order to save the institution from further decline and damage, he suggested that radical steps were to be taken to ‘correct’ what have gone wrong.
Dal Khalsa general secretary Dr Manjinder Singh read the resolutions which were adopted by the conference amidst bole so nihal. The gathering resolved to build public opinion for fixing criteria for members of the SGPC. This has become necessary in view of the working of parties like Akali Dal (Badal), which under the influence of their political partners denounce Sikh principles, precepts and practices.
Another resolution took a dig at the government for allowing Aushotosh cult to play with the sentiments of the Sikhs. The gathering asked the chief minister to stop the Ashutosh led DJJS from holding its proposed meet in Ludhiana on Dec 5-6, which the Dal Khalsa believes was being held with the blessings and support of the Bharatiya Janta Party. The gathering condemned SGPC chief for failing to stop the rise of cults and sects that have posed threat of Guruship of Granth Sahib.
While sharing his views with the gathering Sikh Students Federation President S. Parmjeet Singh Gazi that SGPC has failed to take firm and timely decisions on important matters. He said that SGPC has made an almost irrevocable mistake by requesting Punjab Government to enact a Law declaring SGPC as sole body authorized to prepare Birs of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. He said that by doing so we have surrendered our autonomy before the State.
Bhai Mohkam Singh, chairman of the Khalsa Action Committee said it was painful to note that the political authority of the Sikhs was holding the religious authority to ransom. Having become subservient to the dominant political leadership of the Akali Dal and reduced to passing some resolutions as a ritual, its role has just been reduced to managing (read mismanaging) the gurdwaras and some educational institutions, said he.
Bhai Rajinder Singh of Khalsa Panchayat said numerous resolutions have been sent to Union governments for implementation by the SGPC but ironically they all remained unaddressed due to lack of consistent efforts and in the absence of follow up action. Federation leader Manjit Singh Bhoma and SYP president Ranbir Singh also addressed the gathering.