Amritsar, Punjab (July 31, 2014): Sikh body Dal Khalsa has written to Jathedar of the Akal Takhat apprising him of the plight and status of death row convict Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana’s case besides negative fallout of the internal bickering within the community.
Dal Khalsa president Bhai Harcharanjeet Singh Dhami in his letter sent to Gaini Gurbachan Singh pointed out how Badals led Punjab government has sabotaged all Panthic efforts to save Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana from gallows by refusing to recommend commutation of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana’s death sentence into life on the Home Ministry letter asking for its version.
Notably, Badal Dal & SGPC has filed a petition before the President of India against the death sentence awarded to Balwant Singh Rajoana.
Bhai Harcharanjit Singh Dhami said the media report indicates that India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh would take the final call on Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana as Punjab government has refused to recommend anything on the file. He further quoted Home Ministry official saying that Punjab government has put the onus to take the final decision on Central government.
Reminding Jathedar for bestowing the title of “living martyr’ on Balwant Singh Rajoana by Five Singh Sahibans, he said Badals have double tongue and dual face. There’s a wide gap between the perception and views of Badals as head of the government and as head of the SAD.
He urged the Jathedar to caution the SGPC, DSGMC and the Badal Dal timely of the serious ramifications in case the Modi Sarkar decides to hang Rajoana.
Referring to Badal family controlling the levers of power in all institutions be it political, religious or educational, he said it’s ironic that one family is calling the shots.
We hear the slogan of “Akal Takhat is supreme and pride of the Sikh Panth” during Panthic gatherings and marches, said he. But in practical terms, the political as well as religious leadership was destroying its supremacy, traditions, ethos, tenets and principles. Without naming anyone, the letter says arrogance and big ego’s of those who are at the helm of community’s affairs were responsible for denigration of Sikh institutions including Akal Takht and SGPC.
The letter rue that instead of forging unity, the Sikh institutions and organizations were involved in a race to show other in a poor light.
Referring to their organizations sharp differences with the Jathedar on HSGMC row, Dhami said we differ with you in principle on many issues, however this difference of opinion should not affect our genuine plea to you to save Rajoana.
He took a dig at SGPC for spending a huge amount from guru’s golak to run the advertisement to enforce the edict of Jathedar excommunicating Haryana Sikhs. Asking the Jathedar to give a pause and think, why the SGPC has to resort to such practice?