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Mann makes point, but community shamed again
 KATHUNANGAL: Irrespective of the blame — though it is important why it happened
and because of whose fault — this was one more day of shame for the
Sikh community. Sage Baba Budha ji set an example of ideal way of
life, but any of the Guru’s Sikhs stooped to lowest forms when
celebrating or insisting at participating in the celebrations of
500th birth anniversary of the sage.
Violence carried the day, not tributes, as the panth celebrated the
fifth birth centenary of the first head granthi of Darbar Sahib on
Wednesday in ways purely partisan. Mann and Badal supporters turned
violent, attacked each other, turbans flew and gun shots were fired.
Of course later everyone called everyone else a Congress agent, and
the Congress called both of them as failure leaders who insult the
Guru’s ideals.
Mann got injured after he was roughed up by members of the SGPC’s
task force. Over eight to 10 activists of the rival parties were
also injured, though none very seriously.
Trouble began around 1.30 pm, when Mann and his deputy Daljit Singh
Bittu led over 300 activists to the venue, but were stopped by SAD
(B) activists and Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)
taskforce.
 This led to a scuffle. Turbans flew as kirpans were pulled out and
bricks and stones pelted. Even gunshots kept the police a few yards
away stationed as mute spectators. They intervened only when Mann’s
supporters lifted their injured leader and put him in a vehicle.
Majitha SSP Gautam Cheema said that police had not fired a single
shot and someone else had done so.
“Looks like shots were fired from a small firearm,” he said, adding
that police were examining videotapes of the event and would take
suo moto action if no complaint is filed. The police have also
booked both Akali factions under sections 323, 326, 148 and 149 of
IPC and 25/54 of Arms Act. Cheema said a case has been registered at
Kathunangal police station.
Later Mann accused the Badal faction and chief minister Amarinder
Singh of creating trouble. Badal said Mann was Congress agent and
had come there with a plan directed by Amarinder Singh. Mann said
the SGPC had given out an advertisement inviting the entire panth
and Mann had decided to go there in response to this invitation.
“They have conspired and shaken hands for they are not keen on
allowing a third front to emerge in the political arena of the
state,” Mann alleged.
This was not the first time that Mann has insisted on attending a
function organised by the SGPC and the Badal Dal. An unsavoury
situation had erupted when unsheathed swords were brandished during
the quadricentennial celebrations of the foundation of Akal Takht at
Gurdwara Manji Sahib inside the Golden Temple complex in June when
the SGPC refused to give time to Mann to address the Sikh
congregation after Badal had finished speaking.
Later in July, during a function to mark the 400th Martyrdom
anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji at Tarn Taran, Mann raised a voice
for reviving the Anandpur Sahib draft of the presence of BJP
national
president Rajnath “Singh” thereby putting Badal in an embarrassing
position.
Mann had earlier declared that under no circumstances would his
party tolerate that the glorious history of Sikhs be tainted by the
participation of Om Prakash Chautala and cricketer turned politician
Navjot Sidhu of BJP in a religious function.
He said the politics of these two political leaders was “inimical to Sikh
and Punjabi interests”.
Mann later said the incident was the beginning of a second
Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar.
1 November, 2006
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