I still have not got my head round the recent close cooperation between the Taksal and the Sant Samaj, with Baba Harnam Singh heading both groups.
Of course the Taksal and the Sant Samaj have things in common. They both do not believe in Guru Granth/Guru Panth as ordained by Guru Gobind Singh. They both think that the 1945 Rehat Maryada that came about after wide consultations of various Sikh institutions is no good.
They both believe in the story of Luv and Kush as the forefathers of the Gurus, they also both believe in rules not based on the Rehat Maryada and which are not based on the teachings of the Guru Granth.
The rituals of the Taksal and of the Sant Samaj differ, but both groups tend to emphasise on how to do things, instead of Guru’s emphasis on the intention with which you do things.
Sants tend to tell their followers to give them the money and they will do the spiritual work for you. This does not agree with Taksal practice, unless ‘Baba Harnam Singh’ has changed that too.
The biggest difference between the two groups is in the political field. Most members of the Sant Samaj have been faithful servants of the various Delhi governments, while the Taksal was always a thorn in the side of Delhi.
That makes you wonder what the struggle between Bhai Ram Singh and Baba Harnam Singh was about. Was this new political direction behind the question of who should be the next Taksal Jathedar ?
I knew Bhai Ram Singh when he was one of the Granthis of Darbar Sahib. He was the only person of any weight there who helped me. That agrees with the way I was welcomed by Baba Thakur Singh when I came to take Amrit. But Bhai Ram Singh seemed more open to Sikhs of other traditions, while in Mehta Chowk it was made clear that the Taksal way was true Sikhí.
The most amazing aspect of these new developments is that this Sant Samaj/Taksal combination works together with the Akal Takhat Jathedar and other puppets of the Badal Dal/BJP state government. That this combination is powerful in Panjab I understand. But that educated people in the UK support this unholy alliance does surprise me.
Some groups in the UK think that a difference of opinion is an excuse to use violence. The Sikh Federation should realise that being seen together with violent groups and individuals will be used to justify the Indian anti-Khalistani propaganda. They also should realise that being together with the Sant Samaj and the Badal Dal is not a Panthic stance.
Stop the use of violence
All Sikhs, Sikh organisations and Gurdwaré should undertake never again to use violence as a means to settle differences of opinion. There is no precedent from Guru’s days for this bad practice, the Guru taught us to stand up against injustice, not against opinions that we do not agree with.