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COMMUNITY
SHOCKER: Prof Darshan Singh attacked in Asansol
WSN Bureau
 ASANSOL: In a shocking development, a few people on Tuesday attacked
Prof Darshan Singh, former Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht, at Asansol in
West
Bengal when he reached there for a religious program. Several young
Sikh men, demanding that he give explanation at Akal Takht about the
charges against him, tried to humiliate him and hurled abuses.
The Gurmat
Parchar Sabha of Asansol had invited Prof Darshan Singh in defiance
of a Hukumnama of Akal Takht and incumbent Sikh clergy that had
directed the Sikh sangat not to invite the Ragi because of his views
against Dasam Granth. Many sections of the Sikh Panth have refused
to abide by the edict, calling it as a directive motivated by
political vested interests.
The WSN sources
said one Bhai Harpal Singh, a nominated SGPC member, was
instrumental in garnering support to stop Prof Darshan Singh's
program.
As soon as prof
Darshan Singh reached the venue, Guru nanak Nagar's Sikh Community
Hall, a group of people surrounded his car and humiliated him,
abusing him for allegedly opposing the Akal Takht. Most of the
assaulters were from Kolkota and Bardwan.
Prof Darshan
Singh's associate and private secretary Tejpal Singh was also with
the Ragi at the time of the attack. The attackers got into a scuffle
with Prof Singh, forcing the latter to take his Sri Sahib (sword) in
his hands. Later, someone snatched the 'Miyan' (cover) of the sword.
Prof Darshan
Singh was later escorted away from the site of the clash by the
policemen accompanying him. Later, a local ragi jatha performed
kirtan at the venue.
 Only last
Sunday, the Hoshiarpur district administration had banned a
programme of Prof Darshan Singh at Garhshankar in a move that was
widely being seen as direct state interference in Sikh affairs.
Giani Jagtar Singh Jachak was also prevented from speaking there.
The SGPC's
incumbent leadership, backed by the brute majority that Parkash
Singh Badal's party enjoys in the SGPC general house, is pitted
against the forces that are opposing moves to grant scriptural
status to Dasam Granth.
Surprisingly,
the SGPC president, Avtar Singh Makkar, when asked about his
reaction to the attack on Prof Darshan Singh, said the former
jathedar had written a letter to Akal Purakh, and the latest assault
on him could be a sort of response to his letter. Makkar refused to
express any remorse at the development and said Prof Darshan Singh
will have to appear at the Akal Takht or face music. It seems the
clergy will be under pressure to excommunicate the preacher on
January 29 when it meets again to take a call on the issue.
Prof Darshan
Singh has been given one more chance to respond to accept Tankhwah,
a religious punishment.
20
January 2010
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