During the weekend of 13 and 14 June the jathedar Akal Takhat visited Southall. Apart from an appearance in the Singh Sabha Gurdwara he also visited a private house in the area.
During that visit somebody from the Woolwich Ramgarhia Gurdwara told the jathedar about a person who calls himself ‘the Man in Blue’, who is involved in the arson attack on the Bow Sikh Sangat Gurdwara and who is an agent of the Government of India.
Those that read my blog know that I did visit Woolwich and was ‘apprehended’ by the Prabandhaks while committing the horrible crime of taking pictures of the Gurdwara, was accused of being involved in the fire at the Sikh Sangat Gurdwara and was also told that I was not a Sikh but only dressed up as a one. When I tried to leave my exit was blocked.
The Prabandhaks phoned the police. When the police arrived I was very happy that I could leave the company of the committee members, but I was then searched under article 44 of the prevention of terrorism act.
Of course nothing was found that was even the least bit incriminating, but I think it is ridiculous that if you take pictures of a Gurdwara without the consent of the committee, the police think that this gives them the right to search you under the prevention of terrorism act.
I feel that I have an unresolved issue with the police, but have no wish to have an ongoing row with the Woolwich Gurdwara committee. They had me badly wrong, they made a mistake and they were told by Sikhs from East London that I was not a bogus Sikh and that everything I told them was true.
I have no appetite for a dialogue of the deaf like : You are an arsonist – No I am not; You are an agent of the GOI – No I am not. I am far too busy doing positive things, which I hope contribute to the ‘Welfare for All’, and which will give a positive image of Sikhí.
A friend gave me the contact details of somebody on the Ramgarhia Board, a number of people have offered to support me, but at the end of the day if the Woolwich Ramgarhia Committee keeps slandering me I suppose I will take legal advice about suing them.
I would certainly win, as the committee’s accusations are a completely nonsense. The only grounds for their suspicion are that I took pictures of the Gurdwara and that I did not like being accused of being involved in arson and being called a fake Sikh. In my thirteen years as an Amritdhari Sikh I have had some adventures with Prabandhaks, but never have I been treated with such malevolence.
No amount of paranoia by any individual should result in the treatment that you unfortunately suffered at the hands of these so called ‘prabandaks’.
Although I know reside in Canada, I was born and raised within the Woolwich Sikh community (with that specific) Gurdwara being our local. This Gurdwara (over the past 15 years) has gone from being a central community hub, as one of the first Gurdwarae in South-East England (it has been there for close to 40 years), to one who’s presence is largely ignored.
I had in younger years, tried to set-up a youth council to combat the mass apathy by the local youth. But I and others were met with a combination of disdain and outright indolence by the management.
This is just one of numerous incidents I have has with this Gurdwara. The prabandaks here are only interested in titles and recognition and not the actual work that comes with it.
All their non-support resulted in me and my family simply attending another Gurdwara in Kent which was more resourceful and attentive to young Sikh’s needs.
I still have considerable family and friends in that community, if you require any assistance in pursuing this matter, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Dass,
Manmeet Singh