Hoshiarpur, Punjab (November 26, 2011): The Akal Takht jathedar’s decision to accord ‘Panth Rattan Faqar-e-quam’ award to Parkash Singh Badal draws flak from the Sikh organizations. Various Sikh organizations have alleged that Jathedar Gaini Gurbachan Singh has undermined and belittled the significance of the title.
Expressing their displeasure the Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh said the decision was not on merit.
Addressing the press conference after presiding the meeting of its youth wing ‘Sikh Youth of Punab’, Kanwar Pal Singh pointed out “Badal, who takes pride in portraying himself as secular leader of Punjab, can best be described as a successful politician in a run-of-the-mill politics, but his contribution towards Panth or Panthic cause was zero plus zero is equal to zero. He went on to say that Jathedar was going to write a black chapter in the history of Akal Takht by honouring a person, who is responsible for denigrating the honour of Sikh institutions. He said Badal was not Faqr-e-quam (pride of the community) but fiqr-e-quam (headache for the community).
He asked the jathedar to explain just one such real contribution of Badal that could have made the Panth proud of him. Going step further, he said in the history of Akal Takht, Sikh towering personalities that were accorded the title of Panth Rattan have got posthumously.
Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) leaders Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema and SGPC member Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind also criticized the proposed move. “Parkash Singh Badal has enjoyed the power over blood and dead bodies of innocent Sikh youth killed in fake encounters by Indian forces, so he is not worthy of receiving this title.
“It is notable that Parkash Singh Badal formed government after 1997 Punjab Assembly elections on promise to prosecutor human rights violators but after coming to power formed legal cell and used public funds to defend the violators” they added.
Sikh Students Federation president Parmjeet Singh Gazi, while talking to Sikh Siyasat Network, said that the proposed move was indicative of strong grip of Indian State over Sikh institutions, like SGPC and Akal Takhat. He said that pure sections of the Sikh nation would never approve this move.
Dal Khalsa youth leader Sarabjeet Singh Ghumaan described the step by jathedar Gaini Gurbachan Singh as an attempt to appease his appointing authority. To drive his point home, he said the SGPC, which is the appointing authority of Takht jathedars’ is heavily dominated by members owing allegiance to the SAD led by Parkash Singh Badal.
Accompanied by Ranbir Singh and other youth leaders of Sikh Youth of Punjab, he urged the jathedar not to lower the dignity of the office and do some self-introspection on his decision.