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Makkar faces wrath of Sikhs in
California
WSN Bureau
On stage– Kulwant Singh Sangha, Balbir Singh Dhillon from Gurdwara
San Jose, Raghbir Singh Subhanpur President, Akali Dal (Badal
USA),
Justice Mewa Singh, Manjit Singh Dasua , President Gurdwara Makhan
Shah Lubana, Avtar Singh Makkar, Major singh Sawaddi, EX Member SGPC,
Devinder Singh Rania, Secy Akali Dal (Badal USA), Dr. Harban Singh
Saroa , commission Santa Clara County, Jaswant Singh Hothi , Vice
President AGPC , Jasjeet Singh, member Sikh Youth of America reading
memorandum
CALIFORNIA:
While Avtar Singh Makkar may have thought that he had escaped facing
the wrath of Sikhs in Punjab in the wake of the Sehajdhari
definition row, Sikhs in
California
aggressively engaged him, virtually forcing him to admit that “a
mistake had been committed and that it would be rectified.”
At the Hayward
meeting, Jaswinder Singh Jandi asked the SGPC president to clarify
his stand about Minar-e-Shaheedan’ and Prof Devinderpal Singh
Bhullar. His speech was well received by the Sangat and Makkar was
visibly embarrassed.
At the San Jose
meeting, Jasjeet Singh of Sikh Youth of America read the contents of
a detailed letter which was presented to the fourth-time elected
president of the SGPC on behalf of all the Panthic organizations.
Jasjeet Singh asked him to clarify his stand about the reported
statement of SGPC standing counsel, Pavit Singh Mattewal suggesting
that there was no guarantee that the first nine Gurus were
Keshadharis.
The letter
submitted to the SGPC president says that “In the present case, the
SGPC has had ample opportunities, since the mischief to include
Sehajdharis began in 1959, to rectify the same, but the SGPC has
gone from the frying pan into the fire. SGPC had the clear
privilege to decide on the definition of a Sehajdhari Sikh in the
light of Rahitnamas, Hukamanamas, its own Gurmatas and the opinion
clearly expressed by Sikh scholars. Instead SGPC has either chosen
to keep quiet or act under judicial pressure or obfuscate the issue
because of the incompetence or lack of Sikhi of their lawyers, thus
bringing about great harm to the Sikhs.”
The letter also
sought removal of the very concept of Sehajdhari must be removed
from the statute of Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925.
 Decrying
the SGPC for not making changes in the Act since 1947, the letter
asked the SGPC to stop using the British terminology of head
ministers and use Jathedars instead. Sikh Youth of America appealed
for setting up of clear cut qualifications and procedures for
appointment and impeachment of Jathedars of Takhts which must be
transparent and in consonance with Sikh traditions. The letter also
asked the SGPC to take all steps for release of Prof. Devinder Pal
Singh Bhullar, who is on the death row in Tihar Jail, Delhi.
Avtar Singh Makkar
responded that “he did not know about it and he will work on it and
fix it”. Though he had come to extol about his achievements, he was
upset at having to speak about the Sehajdhari definition imbroglio.
Makkar did not touch upon the issue of Minar-e-Shaheedan,
appointment of Takhat Jathedars and the amendments to SGPC bylaws
sought in the memorandum submitted to him. Jasjeet Singh, again
spoke after Makkar had spoken and expressed total dissatisfaction,
saying, “it’s very sad to hear that the definition SGPC President is
giving about Sehajdharis does not match SGPC’s bylaws. ” Avtar Singh
Makkar promised that he will consult experts on the issue. Soon
before the meeting could begin at San Jose Gurdwara Sahib, members
of the Mann Dal booed Avtar Singh Makkar and did not allow him to
speak for a while, but ultimately he managed to speak. Clearly, the
management committee mismanaged the program.
As Jaswinder
Singh Jandi had warned publicly that “everything will not be smooth
sailing”, Avtar Singh Makkar thought it wise and skipped attending
the meet at Gurdwara Fremont.
19 December
2008
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