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
Jathedar Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana from gallows by refusing to recommend
commutation of Jathedar Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana’s death sentence into life on
the Home Ministry letter asking for its version.
Dal Khalsa president H S Dhami. [File Photo]
Notably, Badal Dal & SGPC has filed a
petition before the President of India against the death sentence
awarded to Jathedar 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 Jathedar 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 Jathedar 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 Jathedar 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 Jathedar 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?