Punjab Newsline – Dal Khalsa contests DGP on revival of terrorism in Punjab

Jagtar Singh

Chandigarh, Saturday, 29 December 2012. The radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa today contested the apprehension raised by Director General of Punjab Police Sumedh Singh Saini about the revival of terrorism and said he was trying to cover up the failure in containing deteriorating law and order situation in the state. The organisation also condoled the death of the girl who was subjected to brutal gang rape in Delhi.

Party chief H S Dhami said it was wrong to link the arrest of militant leader Daljit Singh Bittu and SGPC member Kulbir Singh Barapind with the revival of terrorism and said it was  on the ground that state’s political as well as police leadership had some grudges. “Those who are at helm of affairs at political as well as police level be it in state or centre, do not want to see former militants joining and giving politics a try to further their cause”, he added.

Contesting another claim by the DGP that marches organized by radical groups in the month of March-April were aimed at disturbing peace in the state, he said cutting across party lines, the youth hit the streets to save Balwant Singh Rajoana from gallows at the call of Jathedar, Akal Takht and Panthic groups.

He said the DGP had reiterated that during militancy period 1,784 cops had lost their lives, which was very unfortunate because many were targeted just because they were wearing uniform. However, Dhami wondered why the DGP had not revealed how many citizens, that included sympathizers of movement, relatives of militants, human rights activists, lawyers, and ordinary men and women unconnected with the movement, lost their lives at the hands of Punjab cops during those 10 years. The DGP must also tell the numbers of slain militants that were killed by security forces in real and stage managed encounters.

Meanwhile, condoling the death of the girl, he said, “All members of my group join me in mourning the demise of 23 year old woman, who was gang-raped in Delhi”.  He demanded that culprits should be handed exemplary punishment so that no one could dare to think of doing such ghastly and barbaric act against woman in future. He said the party was also deeply moved by another shameful incident of rape of Patiala girl, who committed suicide because of inaction of the local police against the rapists and expressed grief and condolences to her family.

http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/Dal-Khalsa-contests-DGP-on-revival-of-terrorism-in-Punjab.html

The Tribune – SGPC for fair probe into Sirsa violence

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 26. Condemning the “attack on Sikhs by followers of Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa”, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar today said the Haryana Government should investigate the incident in an impartial manner.

In a statement, Makkar said: “The targeting of peacefully protesting Sikhs by mischievous elements can’t be termed legitimate in any way”.

He said there was a widespread resentment in the community against the incident, which he dubbed, as the outcome of “negligence of the Sirsa administration and the one-sided mindset of the Haryana Government”.

He alleged that the Haryana Government was not sincere in its effort to “bridle such activities of the dera followers”.

He said this was not the first incident of its kind.

The Dal Khalsa said: “The hooliganism by the dera followers is a matter of grave concern.”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121127/punjab.htm#8

The Tribune – Dal Khalsa sends memo to Harper

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 4. The Dal Khalsa today sent a three-paged memorandum to visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on alleged human rights violations in India.

The memo stated that there were media reports suggesting that the Indian authorities were preparing to “take up the issue of Sikh-Canadians who raise their voice against human rights violations in India”.

The Sikh party said it was glad that the Canadian PM would be discussing bilateral trade with the state leadership. “The Canadian Government should explore more educational ties between Canadian universities and those in Punjab,” the memo read.

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The Tribune – Sedition charges against Dal Khalsa leaders dropped

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 22. A local court today dropped charges against 21 leaders and activists of Dal Khalsa who were booked in June 2005 for allegedly raising slogans in favour of Khalistan on the eve of Operation Bluestar anniversary.

An FIR was registered on June 8, 2005, at the Civil Lines police station, Amritsar, against Kanwar Pal Singh and 20 others for delivering provocative speeches and inciting people. The allegations against the petitioners were that on the eve of Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 5, they took out a procession in which certain slogans and speeches were made to incite people to form Khalistan. All were booked under Sections 124-A (sedition), 153-A, 153-B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 188 of the IPC.

All the accused, including Dal Khalsa president H S Dhami and spokesman Kanwar Pal Singh, appeared before the trail court of CJM today. Advocate VPS Bhatia appeared as counsel for the accused. Last week, the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the sedition charges against all the accused. In the light of that order, the court of CJM Ranjeet Kaur today dropped the charges/proceedings in the case.

In February 2010, the accused had moved the high court, seeking quashing of the case. Their plea was that the allegations made in the FIR were factually incorrect as they never raised any such slogans. They also produced a TV video of the procession showing that no such slogans were raised. Among those against whom charges have been quashed are H S Dhami, Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, Kanwarpal Singh, Sarabjit Singh Ghuman, Balraj Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Arpal Singh, Baldev Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Giani Amrik Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Sarwan Singh and Avtar Singh.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121023/punjab.htm#18

The Tribune – Sikh clergy honours Beant killer Rajoana; SGPC chief lays foundation stone of Bluestar Memorial

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 6. The Sikh high priests today bestowed the title of ‘Zinda Shaheed’ (living martyr) on Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted for the assassination of former Chief Minister Beant Singh, on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of Operation Bluestar at the Akal Takht here.

The clergy led by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh presented a plaque, a shawl, a ‘siropa’ and a sword to Bibi Kamaldeep Kaur, Rajoana’s sister, who received the title on his behalf. However, the title was not conferred in the main ceremony, but a couple of hours before it.

Similarly, in an apparent bid to avoid confrontation with “disgruntled” radical groups, the Sikh clergy and SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar laid the foundation stone of the Operation Bluestar Memorial in the basement adjoining Gurdwara Thara Sahib in the Golden Temple Complex much before the main programme.

The development took many by surprise since the SGPC had on May 20 held a special ceremony for the launch of ‘kar sewa’ of the memorial. In his address, Giani Gurbachan Singh said the memorial would inspire generations of Sikhs. He also felicitated relatives of those killed in the Army operation. Among them were Isher Singh, son of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Gurmeet Kaur, wife of Bhai Amrik Singh, and Bibi Pyar Kaur, mother of Indira Gandhi’s assassin Satwant Singh.

Later, replying to a media query regarding former CM Captain Amarinder Singh’s opposition to the memorial, Makkar said, “He should not question construction of the memorial. But if he intends to, then he must first explain why he quit the Congress after the Army operation at the Golden Temple in 1984.” The Captain’s mindset has changed after he joined the Congress, he said.

Radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh also wondered how the memorial would disturb peace in the state. “The Congress had attacked the Golden Temple and, therefore, the Captain’s criticism is neither strange nor relevant,” he added.

Differences among Sikh groups over the Operation Bluestar Memorial came to the fore today. SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjeet Singh Mann led the opposition and lashed out at the SGPC for handing over ‘kar sewa’ of the memorial to Damdami Taksal Chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa.

Addressing a gathering in front of the Akal Takht, he said the Damdami Taksal was no longer the same organisation once led by Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. “The Taksal today is openly conniving with the RSS, the BJP and its agent, the SAD,” he alleged.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120607/main3.htm

The Tribune – Operation Bluestar Anniversary; Punjab: Re-emergence of radicals raises questions

Naveen S Garewal, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5. June 6, 1984, the day the Army launched an attack (Operation Bluestar) on the Golden Temple. It has been 28 years. Why then has the SAD-led Government, into its third term, allowed a ‘Blue Star Memorial’ in the Golden Temple Complex to come up? The BJP, a SAD alliance partner, is strongly opposed to building such a memorial, but has kept quiet because of civic elections in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds the Home Portfolio, finds nothing wrong with the memorial. He says: “Hundreds of innocent devotees who were trapped in the Golden Temple lost their lives during the army attack in 1984. What is wrong if a memorial is built for them?” Apparently there is nothing wrong, except that it is the Damdami Taksal that is building the memorial with the support of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC) and SAD.

Memories resurface

It was the Damdami Taksal head, Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala, who had moved into the Golden Temple complex along with his followers, fortified the Akal Thakt and took on the Army when it moved into the complex to liberate the holiest Sikh shrine. Though, the Army attack caused a deep emotional wound, it is only recently the SAD, which remained mum, has allowed the memories to be resurrected.

Developments, such as the SAD forming an alliance with the Sant Samaj, a predominantly religious body, and appeasing the Damdami Taksal during the post-poll phase can certainly be an attempt by the Akali leadership to neutralise the hardliners in Sikh politics by providing them an honourable return to the mainstream politics.

The re-emergence of fringe elements on the centre-stage of Sikh politics has led to several realignments and questions in Punjab politics. Started before the assembly elections to consolidate the Sikh vote bank by the SAD, the integration of radicals into the political mainstream has caused concern.

Panthic agenda

The inauguration of a series of historical monuments on the eve of Punjab elections was initially seen as a revival of the ‘Panthic Agenda’ (read appeasing the Sikhs) to draw political mileage. Though, denied by the Akalis, the timing and grandeur associated with the Sikh memorials did not leave much to imagination. But today, those watching Punjab politics want to know if the SAD was providing the radicals an honourable way to return to the political mainstream or are the radicals pushing their way back by bullying the Akalis.

Of late several important leaders of the Akal Dal Mann also known as SAD (Amritsar) that professes the cause of Khalistan have joined the Akali ranks. Organisations such as the Dal Khalsa have also returned to the mainline politics. But as of now, it is not clear if hardliners are being wooed back or the hardliners have the mainstream Akalis under some pressure.

While a memorial can be viewed as a move to please certain sections of society, but the decision to bestow the title of ‘Living Martyr’ on Balwant Singh Rajoana, the assassin of former Chief Minister Beant Singh, defies logic of the moderate Akali section. It is difficult to understand what interest can be served by eulogising a person held guilty of cold blooded murder and conspiracy.

SAD anomaly?

The Akal Takht is the highest temporal seat of Sikhs and is directly under the SGPC. It is the SGPC that appoints the Akal Takht Jathedar. At the same time, the SGPC is controlled by the SAD. Therefore, to say the SGPC does not have the SAD approval in honouring Rajoana would be misreading Punjab politics. The move at this juncture can only be seen as an attempt by the SAD to consolidate Sikh politics, now that there is no major threat to it in Punjab from the Congress.

The first major test for the SAD-BJP alliance would be the post-civic election reaction of the BJP to the “policy of appeasement” being adopted by the Akalis towards those who had once challenged the state. Will the Akali leadership be able to handle the situation they are trying to create in Punjab? Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with all his experience will find a solution once he sees things getting out of control. There are not many in the ruling alliance who can boast of a similar expertise.

Amarinder doesn’t favour memorial

Chandigarh, June 5. President of the PPCC Amarinder Singh today said it was completely wrong to set up Operation Bluestar Memorial as it was not going to help the state in any way. He also condemned the attempts to glorify Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted of murdering former Chief Minister Beant Singh. (TNS)

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120606/main7.htm

Prune police force, demands Dal Khalsa

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 18. The Dal Khalsa today called for cutting the bureaucrat “flab” and said the Punjab Government’s decision to have seven officers in the rank of Director General of Police would put further burden on the taxpayers in the state.

Dal Khalsa president HS Dhami and political affairs secretary Kanwarpal Singh claimed that the Chelliah Committee set up by the state government in the nineties had recommended drastic reduction in police and civil administration, which had proliferated under the garb of dealing with militancy in the state.

“The state government is running on borrowed money, a debt that is to be paid by the people. Rather than opting for fiscal prudence, the Badal government is squandering the people’s money to reward its loyalists in the police force. This very first decision of the Badal government is anti-people,” they said.

By having seven DGPs, the government had given the impression that “Punjab was a police state”, they said.

Taking a jibe at the SAD-led government for promoting three IPS officers as DGPs to accommodate their “blue-eyed boy Sumedh Singh Saini”, they alleged that the Badals had thrown all norms and ethics to the wind by appointing the “cop with tainted past” as the Punjab Police head.

The duo claimed the present government had superseded four officers to hand over the reins of the police force in Saini’s hands “only to pay back for his loyalty towards the Badals”.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120319/punjab.htm#10

The Tribune – Sedition case; Challan filed against Dal Khalsa activists

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 4. After a period of more than six years, the local police finally filed a challan against 22 Dal Khalsa activists in a sedition case registered against them on June 8, 2005. Six of the accused, including Dal Khalsa’s secretary general Kanwar Pal Singh, appeared before the trail court of CJM Kuldeep Singh today. The court has fixed March 13 as the next date of hearing and has ordered all the accused to appear before it.

The local police had on June 8, 2005 registered a case under various offences, including sedition, at Civil Lines Police Station against Dal Khalsa activists for organising a Genocide Remembrance March on the eve of 21st anniversary of “Operation Bluestar”. The FIR was registered under sections 153-B, 153-A, 124-A, 188 of the IPC.

In February, 2010, the accused had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court and filed a petition praying for the quashing of the FIR. The case is still pending in the High Court and the next date of hearing is February 9, said Kanwar Pal Singh.

He said the police today filed a challan under section 188 of the IPC whereas sanction to prosecute the accused under sedition charges from the Department of Home Affairs and Justice was still awaited.

He further commented, “What had the government and the police been doing for all these years.” He added that the march passed through the streets of Amritsar peacefully and culminated at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib.

A number of policemen and intelligence operatives were in attendance to monitor the event although no incidents of incitement or violence occurred and no attempt was made to stop the march or make any arrests during the event, he claimed.

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The Tribune – Sikhs still divided on Nanakshahi calendar

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 8. With different Sikh groups sticking to their respective stands, the community continues to remain divided over the Nanakshahi calendar which was amended a couple of years ago.

While the SGPC-run gurdwaras celebrated the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh on December 31, the DSGMC, led by Paramjit Singh Sarna, and other organisations like the Dal Khalsa went as per the original version of the calendar and celebrated the event today. Interestingly, as per the amended calendar, which is followed by the SGPC, Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary will not be celebrated in 2012. Reason: As per the amended version, the gurpurb was celebrated for the second time in 2011 on December 31 while the birth anniversary does not figure in the calendar this year.

On the other hand, the birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru is celebrated on January 5 every year as per the original calendar.

Sarna has been strongly opposing the amended calendar right since the changes were made and has maintained that original Nanakshahi calendar is a symbol of a separate Sikh identity.

Similarly, the Dal Khalsa vowed to stick to the original version, arguing that the amendments are in sync with Hindu religious events. The organisation voiced its concern against mixing of Nanakshahi (solar calendar) with Bikrami (lunar calendar).

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The Tribune – Human rights violation; Dal Khalsa writes to US watchdog

Jalandhar, December 10 Marking the 63rd World Human Rights Day, the Dal Khalsa has invited the US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) to probe the “continuing abuse of human rights in Punjab”.

In a six-page missive addressed to the international watchdog’s office in New York, the Dal Khalsa has listed several instances of custodial deaths and violations of rights of political dissenters and common citizens over the past one year.

It also highlighted several incidents of denial of civil liberties to common citizens. These included incidents of high-handedness by the authorities on protesting pharmacists, ETT teachers, unemployed linemen, female multi-purpose health workers, unemployed B.Ed. teachers, veterinary inspectors, farmers and employees of a sugar mill, besides Sikh radicals.

“Such incidents widely reported in the media have failed to elicit any reaction from the law-makers in the state or the Union government,” states the letter.

“We are particularly concerned about the prospects of retired Punjab police officers having checkered past jumping into the political fray, reads the letter. (TNS)

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