CHANDIGARH: In a highly significant development, which could have far-reaching consequences within the Sikh community, a large number of Sikh organizations, intellectuals, panthic bodies, thinkers and individuals openly defied the hukumnama (edict) against former Akal Takht jathedar Prof Darshan Singh by the incumbent jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, though a symbolic gesture of sharing a meal with him on Tuesday.
Supping with the former clergyman at a city hotel was an action of blatant defiance of the edict, which had cautioned the Sikh community to sever “roti-beti di saanjh” (all social relations) with him. Going a step ahead, the gathering called for a revolution against the forces which were influencing the clergy and political rulers of Sikhs by silencing dissenting and rational voices. “With this meal today, we declare a no-confidence move against the jathedars and their political masters,” the speakers declared.
Humble, yet defiant, Darshan Singh, equated himself with a lowly animal like dog, whose loyalty to his master is never questioned. “I will always remain a loyal guard at the house of my master, the Guru and the Khalsa Panth, and would continue to caution against any impending danger from any force by raising my voice. Sikhs need to be wary of the Dasam Granth,” the renowned hymn singer declared.
Another speaker talked of how the then clergyman had stood up for the community before and after Operation Bluestar, when every other Sikh leader had either fled from the scene or was sending SOS to the Union government for military intervention. “We owe it to him for infusing courage back into the community during those troubled times,” former IAS officer Gurtej Singh announced. Ridiculing the clergy’s action, while equating it to then jathedar’s action of honouring Reginald Dyers for Jallianwala Bagh massacre, or excommunicating the great Sikh intellectual Prof Gurmukh Singh during the British regime, speakers said the clergy was once again trying to mislead the community at the behest of other forces, which want the community to go back into the fold of Hinduism.
