After several discussions with the Executive Commitee & Committee of Sri Guru Singh Sabha,Dr Tara Singh gave the go ahead for Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda to do Katha in the morning slot of the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar Programmes.Bhai Sahib did his Katha in front of hundreds of members of the Sangat who had come to listen to him,there were no incidents at the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara.
Thereafter the Executive Committee of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall after consultation with community leaders & the Sangat also gave the go ahead for Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda to do Katha in the evening from 8-9pm,as Sri Akal Takht Sahib had given the go ahead.Word of Bhai Sahib being given the go ahead spread far & wide across Southall & the neighbouring boroughs.
By 6pm the Sangat began to gather at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Park Avenue Southall in anticipation of Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda's Katha.As this was happening groups of people who call themselves so called 'Taksalis' etc..began to gather we say so called as they do not live up to the name of the original Damdami Taksal.These people along with other Sant Samaji followers stood outside the Gurdwara & in the front of the entrance.As time went on more & more continued to arrive with their faces covered these people without a doubt were looking to cause a mass disturbance at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall,these people were led by Navraj Cheema,Harjit Watford (BOSS Camp),Bhinder,Amarjit & their associates from East London.They were all sent down to Sri Guru Singh Sabha Park Avenue by Gurmail Malhi the disgraced leader of the so called 'Sher Party' & Harjit Sarpanch who was also involved in a similar incident at Miri Piri Gurdwara Southall a few years ago when it's windows were smashed.
The majority of the trouble makers were not from Southall or even from London most of them had travelled down from the Midlands ie:Birmingham,Coventry,Smethwick,Wolverhampton & from East London & Gravesend.By now several Police car's had arrived to monitor what was going on & due to the lies told by these Sant Samaji Pakhandis about how members of the Sangat have weapons etc & threats of attack on the Sangat & Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda the Police called in reinforcements & several specialised units including armed Police to Park Avenue.These trouble makers had also phoned up several sharabi friends thugs/druggies from across London to attend.
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| Police block entrances to Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall while countless riot Police & Vans blockade Park Avenue |
While this was happening Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda had arrived at Sri Guru Singh Sabha & his Katha had started in front of nearly 1500 members of the Southall Sangat.The Sangat continued to arrive as did the trouble makers who were loitering around the pavements & the entrance of the Gurdwara.The Police then decided to seal off the entire Gurdwara and not let any in or out as there was an air of tension in and around Park Avenue.The Sangat who came to see Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda did request the Police to let them in and some did get in after several requests but the Police had to turn away the remaining Sangat which included old aged pensioners and families,who were alarmed at what was going on.
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| Katha of Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda continues inside the Gurdwara in front of Sangat |
As Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda's Katha concluded to Jakaras of the Sangat Mr Dhillon on behalf of the Committee explained to the Sangat that Sri Akal Takht Sahib Ji had given the go ahead to Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda and that he had done it earlier on at Guru Nanak Darbar Southall.Bhai Sahib also reiterated that there no violation of any hukam nor was anything bad or out of line said.Bhai Sahib then explained & questioned to why these people led by Navraj Cheema,Harjit Watford,Bhinder etc were outside on one hand they claim they follow Sri Akal Takht Sahib on the other they were threatening violence in the open for no reason when Sri Akal Takht Sahib gave the go ahead for the Katha.Bhai Sahib then got a message that no one was allowed to leave the Gurdwara for half an hour as per Police Instructions as the trouble makers outside were growing in numbers and while the Police dispersed them the Sangat should do Jaap of Satnaam Waheguru.As time went on Sukhassan of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was done along with Ardaas,when the Sangat attempted to leave the Police fearing for the Safety of the Sangat asked them to move back as the Sant Samaji Pakhandis had blocked all the exit gates including Car Park gate where they were gathered.
These Hooligans declared they will not leave until Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda did as they wanted to 'teach him a lesson'.The situation was then in deadlock and the trouble makers refused to move even after Riot Vans & Senior Police Officers arrived to negotiate.The Sangat by now was very frustrated with what was happening and what an embarrassment this was causing to the Sikh Community and specifically Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall.The trouble makers then openly swore and asked for confrontation with members of the Sangat who were of all ages & backgrounds they were openly challenging them to a fight by swearing and then doing Jakaras several rocks were also thrown in to the Gurdwara Premisis by these thugs who were hell bent on causing some sort of a riot.Thanks to the Police negotiations the Sangat remained calm within the Gates and did not go forward.
This went on for over an hour when suddenly reports came in of Several members of the Sangat being hit and sworn at by some of the trouble makers who had made their way in to the Gurdwara's front garden area.Not only this they challenged several young Women & Mothers to fights and swore at them in the most disgusting language which enraged the Sangat this led to minor scuffles which the Police broke up.
By now the Sangat was being taunted from over the walls & gates to come outside they still kept their calm asking the thugs 'What do you want to achieve?' 'Why don't you just go home?the Katha is over' etc.The trouble makers just swore back and did not move.
Around 45 minutes later at around 10:15pm arrangements had been for Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda to leave,the Police in a very polite manner again requested for the trouble makers to move away from the gates to allow the Sangat & vehicles to leave they still refused.The Police then strategically positioned the vehicles & themselves for a safe exit from the Gurdwara Car Park.As the cars drove out the trouble makers rushed forward attempting to break Police lines and attacked one car which appeared to be one of their own,once this had happened the Police began to shout 'Move back' as the cars containing the Sangat & Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda were next in line to leave a this point in time the whole of Park Avenue was sealed off by riot Police.As the cars went forward the trouble makers erupted in to an orgy of violence by swearing,screaming,throwing obstacles etc they were even attempting to tear down the steel Gurdwara Gates by kicking them & shaking them they had no shame in putting their hands on the Khanda on the car park gate pulling it to tear the gate down and even climbing it.
The Sangat was watching in shock and the Police kept everyone away from the Gates for their own safety as well as that of the community officers present.By now Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda's car had gone through the gates and some trouble makers attempted but failed to attack the vehicle some of these Vandals were even dragged from their legs & beaten with batons as they challenged the Police to a fight by laying down on the actual road.After Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda & the Sangat in cars had left these Sant Samajis continued to heckle the remaining Sangat by again blocking the exits.A few even tried to fight members of the Sangat & even the Police which resulted in Police Dogs being bought in outside the Gurdwara the Vandalism to the Gurdwara gates & perimeter walls continued.The Police then decided they wanted all the Sangat outside back inside the Gurdwara,a few members of the Sangat such as old age pensioners were also given safe passage out by the Police from a side entrance.
While everything inside the Gurdwara was over the trouble makers still continued outside this time attempting to fight with the Police as they refused to disperse for well over an hour.The Police then called extra vans to control the trouble makers.The onlooking Police were even in shock that with everything over they still wanted a fight when no one was around they were openly attacking the building & gates of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Park Avenue Southall,a Gurdwara to which most of them have never even been to.The Police then had to use force after 11pm to disperse the remaining crowd of about 40-50 trouble makers.As this Statement was written the Police stand guard outside Sri Guru Singh Sabha Park Avenue.
We Dal Khalsa UK on behalf of the local Southall Sangat condemn in the strongest possible terms the disgusting, outrageous & sickening acts of these foolish thugs who were transported and invited in from outside of Southall.They came from places like the Midlands & East London and have never had any link to Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall or any events here.One has to think would they cause such mayhem in their own areas?or Gurdwaras which they use as Deras in the Midlands?
We condemn the acts of sheer violence towards members of the Sangat be it physical attacks,swearing,lobbing rocks etc,these people have no shame that young children & old ladies were terrified & even in tears as to what was happening at their local Gurdwara a place where they come to attain peace.Members of Southall's Sikh Community are disgusted at their attempts to attack Sri Guru Singh Sabha Park Avenue a Gurdwara to which generations of local Sikhs have been coming we applaud those members of the Sangat who stayed till the very last minute in a peaceful manner to protect the Gurdwara Sahib from these hooligans who wanted pure violence nothing else.Dressed in the Khalsa's Bana these people made a mockery of Sikhs & tarnished our image in front of the local Police,local non Sikh residents & passers by.We thank the Police for trying their very best to diffuse the situation in a peaceful manner and for being understanding even when things were at deadlock,the Sangat just wanted to go home in peace as did the committee but even after most did these thugs were hell bent on causing damage.We hold no one else responsible for the shocking and disgusting incidents which occurred, apart from these hooligans and their leaders Navraj Cheema,Harjit Watford (BOSS Camp),Bhinder etc..This sick game plan was all fully backed by Gurmail Malhi of the disgraced 'Lion Party' & Harjit Sarpanch all these people on purpose targeted Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall in their dirty Political Game to discredit the Gurdwara,Sangat,Committee & local Sikh Groups.They are misleading various groups of Youths while at the same time disgracing the Sikh Community by their actions,the majority of these thugs claim to be 'Khalistani' they are nothing but a disgrace & hindrance to the Sikh Freedom Movement & as far as we and the Sangat are concerned they have nothing to do with it,they have held it back & destroyed it for long enough.These Cultists Baba Worshipper Sant Samajis are nothing but trouble makers who even disobey Sri Akal Takht Sahib in an open manner.They came in with full force from outside Southall to cause trouble and violence even though they did this the Katha of Bhai Sarbjit Singh Dhunda still went ahead and was a huge success &it was a victory for the local Sangat even though the hooligans outside were attempting to hold everyone at ransom.
Members of the Southall Sangat themselves have openly declared that these people are trouble makers and not welcome ever again in to the local Southall area,as the thugs themselves have exposed themselves for what they are over the last week or so.
The facts are open for all to see and one can go any time they want to Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall Park Avenue & speak to any member of the Sangat they wish to regarding the incidents of violence etc.The Sangat will themselves give you the answer as to who was responsible.The Committee the local Sangat ended the Katha in peace and wanted to keep it that way as Sri Akal Takht Sahib said but these people refused to listen.There have been many lies that the Committee & local Sangat bought in 'alcoholics' 'thugs' etc this is all untrue & if anyone does not believe us they can go and ask anyone in the local Sangat of their choice.
These people never target Choot diya dukana or those Deras/Babas who openly rape our daughters & mothers who openly sit like Gurus,these people never target such Deras or so called Gurdwaras who openly break Sikh Rehit Maryada and challenge Sri Akal Takht Sahib's Panthic Rehit Maryada,they forget about the countless Pakhandi Dehdhari Nakli Gurus like the Radhaswamis,Namdharis etc,they openly go to all Baba Deras who rip off millions of the Sangats cash in World tours.They only target those who they see as a threat to their 'maryada' or 'dera' rather they will justify the actions with phrases like 'Puratan Maryada' and so on,they overlook Gurmat & the Panthic Rehit Maryada.
Our appeal has always been for unity amongst Sikhs and we continue to appeal for this as these people are only a minority who were outnumbered by the Sangat 5 - 1 they have no stand on any issue,so their is no question of division amongst Sikhs.We do Ardass to Waheguru that may these people learn from what they have done in Southall & the damage they have caused to Sikhs as a whole.We fully condemn their violent actions which the Police are witness to and we fully commend the local Sangat for standing up to these thugs & liars who disobey Sri Akal Takht Sahib.