The Tribune – Dera chief’s hearing on February 22; Security tightened along Punjab-Haryana border

Aman Sood, Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 20. Punjab police personnel posted along the Punjab-Haryana border have been put on “high alert” to prevent any untoward incident in the build-up to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s personal appearance before a Bathinda court on February 22.

There is a large following of the dera in the districts along the Punjab-Haryana border and many are expected to enter Punjab for the hearing. Intelligence inputs suggest that there could be a large gathering in Bathinda outside the court complex where the dera chief is expected to appear.

“We have alerted the respective district police chiefs to ensure that the crowds remain peaceful,” Punjab Additional Director General of Police-Intelligence, HS Dhillon told The Tribune.

The case against the dera chief pertains to hurting Sikh sentiments in 2007 when he allegedly wore attire similar to that of Guru Gobind Singh. There have been several clashes between various Sikh factions and the dera followers in the past so the police does not want to take any chances.

“Whenever there is any religious gathering of the dera, we ensure that several nakas are laid on the highway to keep a strict vigil on the crowds. We will monitor the state highway from Haryana to Sangrur police limits,” said H S Bhullar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sangrur. “Police nakas will be in place till February 22,” Bhullar said.

In addition to Sangrur-Patiala, Bathinda, Barnala, Mansa and a couple of other districts have also been put on alert.

Another senior official confirmed that forces other districts have been summoned to reach Bathinda to put in place proper security arrangements in and around the venue of the dera chief’s stay in Bathinda.

Moreover, the Moga by-election is also set to be held on February 23. Senior leaders of the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal have been camping at Moga for the past over a week. “One minor incident can totally change the outcome of the elections, therefore security needs to be tight,” said a police officer.

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The Tribune – Dera chief told to appear in court

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 8. The court of Additional Sessions Judge BS Johal today ordered the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, to appear in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bathinda, on February 22.

On May 13, 2007, a local resident, Rajinder Singh Sidhu, had lodged a complaint against the dera chief for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community by trying to imitate Guru Gobind Singh.

The complainant had alleged that the dera chief had worn a robe similar to that associated with the Tenth Sikh Guru at a function in Salabatpura dera in Bathinda.

A case was registered under Section 295 (a) (deliberate and malicious act to outrage religious feelings by insulting any religion) of the IPC.

At today’s hearing, the court dismissed the revision petition filed against the summon orders (seeking personal appearance) by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s counsel SK Garg and Kewal Brar.

The complainant’s counsel, J S Khattar, said the directions were significant even if these had been passed after more than five years of the legal battle. Sikh religious leaders, including Panch Pardhani vice-president Baba Hardeep Singh, Jaspal Singh Manjpur, Manjit Singh Dhelwan, Dharam Singh Harraipur, Surinder Singh Nathana and Kulwant Singh Rori, were present during the hearing. Baba Hardeep Singh said, “We have faith in the judiciary.” He demanded that other cases against the dera head also be taken up in fast-track courts.

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The Tribune – Anti-dera bodies serve ultimatum

Tribune News Service

Sirsa, November 25. Organisations opposed to the Dera Sacha Sauda have given an ultimatum to the authorities to arrest those responsible for the attack on them by November 30 or face consequences. A meeting of the organisations opposed to the dera was held at Gurdwara Chilla Sahib today.

Sukhwinder Singh Khalsa, president, Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha, who headed the meeting, said they had asked the authorities to arrest the accused by November 30 or they would be forced to take to the streets to seek justice.

Khalsa alleged that besides those mentioned in the FIR for yesterday’s incident, dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was also responsible for the attack.

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The Tribune – Dera chief case hearing on September 1

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 4. The court of Dilbag Singh Johal today adjourned the case of alleged imitation by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to September 1.

The dera head had allegedly hurt the sentiments of Sikhs by wearing a robe similar to one worn by Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.

An FIR had been lodged in this regard at the Kotwali police station on the complaint of Rajinder Singh Sidhu.

S K Garg, counsel for the dera head, sought time for preparing arguments in the case. Sidhu, accompanied by Baba Hardeep Singh and advocate Navkiran, was also present during the hearing.

Hardeep Singh of Gurusar Mehraj said they would not relax until the Sirsa dera head was punished for his act.

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The Tribune – Dera chief made respondent

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 27. Acting on a petition for a CBI probe into the alleged castration of 400 “sadhus” at Dera Sacha Sauda headed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today made him a respondent.

The court also issued a notice for October 10 on an application for the medical examination of petitioner Hans Raj Chauhan and seven other sadhus.

In his petition filed through counsel Navkiran Singh, petitioner Chauhan of Fatehabad district alleged that the victims were castrated on the false hope that “ males who would get themselves castrated would be able to achieve God through Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh”.

He also sought compensation for himself and “such-like sadhus who have been rendered impotent and are unable to procreate”.

Directions have also been sought for providing adequate security to the petitioner and his parents.

Navkiran Singh said the petitioner had faced hormonal imbalance because of castration. He had lost body hair and developed

breasts. “The petitioner has become incapable of having children and he has to face humiliation at the hands of the general public, that treats him as eunuch”.

He said 100 of the 400 castrated sadhus were being used to protect Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s family.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120728/punjab.htm#17

The Tribune – Dera Sacha Sauda chief allowed to visit Nepal

Gurdeep Singh Mann, Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 1. Additional Sessions Judge D S Johal today allowed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to visit Nepal. The court, however, dismissed the sect head’s plea for release of his passport.

Sikh leaders and a local resident had filed a case against the dera head for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the community by wearing a dress resembling the one that used to be worn by Guru Gobind Singh. The dera head’s counsel had filed a plea to release his passport and allow him to visit Nepal for treatment.

Advocate J R Khattar, who argued against the dera head in the court, said the visit to Nepal had been allowed following a bank guarantee of Rs 5 lakh and submission of an affidavit specifying the duration of his visit. The next hearing of the case had been fixed on August 4.

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The Tribune – Dera chief exempted from court appearance

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been booked for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of the Sikhs by dressing up as Guru Gobind Singh

Megha Mann, Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 26. The court of Additional Sessions Judge DS Johal today granted relief to Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by staying a lower court’s order that had directed him to appear before the Judge on May 10.

Dera chief’s counsel had yesterday moved an application in the court of District and Sessions Judge S K Aggarwal challenging the decision of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Harjit Singh who had summoned him to appear in the court on May 10. The next hearing in the case has been fixed on May 25.

On April 2, the CJM court had dismissed a Bathinda police report seeking cancellation of an FIR lodged against the Dera chief for allegedly dressing up as Guru Gobind Singh and hurting religious sentiments of the Sikhs in 2007.

Refusing the police’s plea, the CJM had directed the government witnesses to depose before the court on May 10.

A Dera spokesperson had contended that the police had failed to produce a challan in the court within the three-year stipulated period and in this case more than four-and-a-half years had passed.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120427/punjab.htm#12

The Tribune – Candidates flock to Dera Sacha Sauda

SP Sharma & Archit Watts, Tribune News Service

Bathinda/Muktsar, January 16. With a few days left for polling in the state, more than 100 candidates belonging to the SAD, the Congress, the Sanjha Morcha and others visited Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa last evening to seek blessings of its controversial chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh whose sect has considerable following in Punjab, particularly in the Malwa belt.

Irrespective of party affiliations, the dera chief met the candidates on a single platform and did not oblige them with a separate audience.

The candidates had to cool their heels till the dera chief decided to address them together at around 7.30 pm.

He advised the candidates to be good human beings and strive to end female foeticide and drug abuse.

Keeping in mind the backlash that the dera followers faced in Malwa after the 2007 assembly elections when the SAD was virtually wiped out in the belt, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh did not meet the candidates individually.

The Left parties have always shunned Dera politics, but former CPI legislator Hardev Arshi, who is contesting from Mansa, chose to visit the dera this time. Among the SAD candidates who sought the dera chief’s blessings were Saroop Chand Singla, Mantar Brar, former DGP PS Gill, Surjit Kohli, Surjeet Rakhra, Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur, Amarjeet Singh Sidhu, Darshan Kotfatta and Deep Malhotra. Singla is pitched against Harminder Singh Jassi (Congress), whose daughter is married to dera chief’s son.

Congress leaders Sunil Jakhar, Amarinder Singh Warring “Raja”, Ripjit Singh Brar, Avtar Brar, Jassi Khangura, Lal Singh, Gurpreet Kaur, Kewal Dhillon, Surinder Pal Singh Sibia and Isher Singh Meharban met the dera chief as did BJP’s Raj Khurana and Vijay Luxmi Bhadoo. Mohan Singh Phallianwala of the BSP and Hans Raj Josan, an Independent, were also present there.

PCC chief Captain Amarinder Singh and PPP president Manpreet Singh Badal have already paid a visit to the dera.

Talking over the phone, Ram Singh, member, political wing, Dera Sacha Sauda, said: “Nearly 100 candidates of various political parties met the dera chief in the evening, but no formal announcement has been made so far as extending support to a particular party is concerned”.

Ram Singh added, “The decision in this regard will definitely come, but it will take few more days. We have asked our members in all districts and blocks to send us suggestions so that a consensus can be evolved and an announcement made accordingly.”

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398.The Man in Blue – Ashutosh Maharaj, Sant Rama Nand, Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh

With great sadness have I heard about the Sikhs in Panjab being involved in yet another row with a bogus ‘God-man’. It shows that the Sikhs are part of the problems of Panjab, and not part of the solution.

The worst of it is that many think that this is the Guru’s way, that getting into fights with followers of Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, Sant Rama Nand or of Ashutosh Maharaj is similar to Guru’s struggle for freedom against the Mughal authorities of his day.

Why do Sikhs get excited when some idiot says that he is the incarnation of Guru Gobind Singh and/or Jesus Christ ? Why not concentrate on teaching Sikhí to the Sikhs and to all others who are interested ? Why not teach that we should follow ‘The One’ and our ‘Eternal Guru’, the Guru Granth Sahib ?

Why do we not break our links with the self appointed holy men of the ‘sant samaj’ ? Why do we not formulate a policy that will finally implement a practical model of ‘Guru Granth – Guru Panth’ ? Why do we not abolish the present rule by politicians, pradhans, jathedars and babe ?

Why do we not explain to the world-wide panth that Guru never waged war on dodgy god-men and that Guru would condemn useless practices anywhere ? Guru would condemn our present rituals and rules that are neither based on the Guru Granth Sahib nor on the Sikh Rehat Maryada.

Why do we not explain that the Guru Granth Sahib says that ultimately the test is whether a person has Godly behaviour, and that running amok in the streets of Panjab, forcing shops to close like a bunch of hooligans is neither Godly nor Sikhí behaviour.

Of course the Panjab Police was totally out of order firing on the demonstration, even in India there is no death penalty on being in a demo. But I do not understand why the people killed are called shahíds.

Was the demonstration about protecting the oppressed ? Were the demonstrators fighting against injustice ? The answer to both questions is no. Being killed, even being killed unjustly, does not make you a shahíd. This is what ‘Baba Dhumma’ had to say : “We are against Ashutosh as his followers popularise him as a reincarnation of Guru Nanak Dev, Lord Rama and Jesus Christ. We cannot buy this.”

Well ‘Baba Dhumma’, you do not have to buy this, nobody is forced to follow any of these idiotic sant-babas. The fact that so many people, Sikh and Hindu, follow these idiotic ‘religious leaders’ shows you the poor state of both the Sikh and the Hindu dharm in Panjab.