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Sirsa Cult Leader Makes Mockery of Guru Sahib!
Wednesday 16th of May 2007 Panthic Weekly News Bureau
Cultists: "Our Guru is better than your Guru!"
Cult leader wearing clothes similar to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, complete with a Kalgi on his head
Cult leader wearing clothes similar to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, complete with a Kalgi on his head
Bathinda, Punjab (KP) – Panthic organizations in Punjab and around the world have taken strong notice of the recent controversial and blasphemous acts of the Dera Sacha Sauda Cult leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim in which he dressed himself as Guru Gobind Singh Ji and mimicked the sacred Sikh Amrit-Sanchar ceremony carried out by Guru Sahib on Vaisakhi of 1699.
In a mockery of the historic Amrit sanchar more than three centuries ago, Gurmit Ram Rahim prepared a Ruhafza Sharbat (flavored milk) drink, labeled it as the 'Jam-e-Insa' (drink of humanity), administered it to the Sacha Sauda followers and announced the formation of the 'Insa Panth'.
Insulting the Amrit-Sanchar Ceremony
To inaugurate the ceremony, Ram Rahim first administered the drink to seven men and announced the forty-seven golden rules of the so-called Insa Panth which all members of the congregation must abide by. Later, Ram Rahim appeared in front of the seven men, whom he titled the 'Sat Sitare' (Seven Stars), satirizing the ‘Panj Pyare’ (beloved five) of the Sikhs and asked them to carry out a ceremony to initiate him in this newly formed religious order. At this ceremony, Ram Rahim was dressed in clothing much like the type adorned by Guru Gobind Singh Ji and mimicked historical accounts of Vasakhi 1699.
Later after this event took place, tensions broke out in Bathinda in which Sikhs protested the acts of Ram Rahim's cult. Sacha Sauda followers also came out to oppose the protesting Sikhs and the scene became violent when at least twenty-five persons were badly injured. According to witnesses, Punjab Police officers just looked on as cultists beat the Sikh protestors with sticks and stones. Once the fight began to even out, the police finally decided to intervene and the tense situation was brought under control.
Call for Strong Action
Panthic Organizations have submitted this case to Akal Takht Sahib and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and asked the Sikh leadership to take strong actions to counter the Sacha Sauda propaganda. Several foreign based Panthic organizations have also submitted appeals with the Akal Takht Sahib to take strong actions against Ram Rahim in the form of a HukamNama similar to the one issued in 1978 against the nakli-Nirankaris. Under pressure from the protesting Sangat, the Takht Jathedars have called for an all Panthic meet at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Sabo Di Talwandi.
Secret Pact with Badal?
Panthic Weekly has also learned that Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, special assistant to Parkash Badal asked the Takht Jathedars to postpone any announcement or verdict directed at the cultist Baba. Akali Dal insiders have revealed that a secret pact between Parkash Badal and the cult leader was worked out. In the deal, Badal has assured the Sirsa Baba that no religious or police action would be taken against him. Panthic activists have long warned that internally Parkash Badal has had cozy relationships with cult leaders such the Ram Rahim of Sucha Sauda, Aushutosh of Nurmehal, and even notorious Gurbachan Sinh of the Nakli-Nirankaris.
Panthic insiders have revealed that early this week, the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, Joginder Singh Vedanti--who incidentally was appointed by Badal and his party--held a meeting with Takht Jathedars to cancel the Panthic meeting at Bathinda. Over objections from other Jathedars, Vedanti was overruled. Numerous representatives of organizations such as Shaahbaaz Khalsa, GURSIKH and Panthic Weekly attempted to contact the Jathedar but he has not responded. Despite his attempts to uphold Badal's pact, Vedanti was seen on television Thursday saying the Khalsa Panth needs to take strong action.
Deja Vu All Over Again
A representative of the Khalsa Alliance, while talking with Panthic Weekly, compared the Bathinda incident with the various Nirankari clashes that occurred in the late 1970's. Those clashes came to a climax on Vaisakhi of 1978 when thirteen innocent Sikhs were killed by the armed Nirankaris with the aid of local Police. The Nirankari leader Gurbhachan Sinh had paraded the streets of Amritsar Sahib on Vaisakhi mimicking Sikh traditions. Copying the ideology of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Gurbhachan Nirankari had promised to form 'Sat Sitare' in comparison to Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Punj Pyare. That incident had involved hundreds of Sikhs peacefully marching and chanting hymns when dozens of armed gunmen opened fire on them with automatic weaponry.
Silence of Badal and SAD
Not surprisingly, the Shiromani Akal Dal (B) government which failed to take any actions against the Nirankaris in 1978 for their rampage is again showing reluctance in taking timely actions against the Sacha Sauda Cult. Neither Parkash Badal, nor his son, the acting Chief Minister of Punjab, was available to comment on this issue. An office bearer of Shiromani Akal Dal (B)'s headquarters told the press that the Chief Minister has asked all Punjabis to work together to preserve the peace in Punjab by rising above ideological differences.
Editors can be reached at editors@panthic.org
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