d in numerous ways, beaten, tortured, imprisoned, murdered and simply disappeared. We have been called every sort of nasty, evil name, been reviled as 'terrorists' and 'traitors.' It has even been suggested that I personally ought to be kidnapped, taken to India, tried for treason - an strange idea, since I have never been a citizen of that country - and hanged.With such a proud history, this has got to be a first. Evidently, we are now a 'public inconvenience' and likely to be arrested for that. Personally, being an 'inconvenience,' whether public or private suits my disposition just fine. This article isn't really about Khalistan - it's about problems with Ram Rahim Whuzzit - but I thought you all ought to know!
BTW, I am not making light of this huge row with this inscrupulous person, it just tickled my funnybone to be called 'a public inconvenience.' At least they have enough sense to still recognise us as 'radical.'
From The Times of India:
Is Dera-Sikh row taking radical turn?
21 Sep 2008, 0241 hrs IST, Neel Kamal,TNN
MANSA: The Dera Sacha Sauda row seems to be taking a radical turn. On Saturday, a mob of 200 Sikhs tried to unfurl a Khalistan flag at Mansa-Bathinda intersection.
The bid, however, was foiled when police arrested around 90 people for causing public inconvenience. Here it is, unfurled and unfoiled!
"Some objectionable material used by the agitating Sikh activists was also removed from the venue," said SSP Manminder Singh.
Earlier in the day, SAD (Amritsar) general secretary Gursewak Singh Jawaharke led party activists in blocking the road at the intersection. The protesters, who disrupted traffic to Bathinda, Barnala and Sangrur, were demanding the immediate arrest of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and closure of an upcoming Dera branch.
The latest Dera-Sikh face-off has been on for the past six days with more and more Sikh groups joining in the stir. On Friday, even Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh had extended support to the protesters and issued a statement from Takht Damdama Sahib saying the peaceful struggle against the Dera was in the right direction.
Meanwhile, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has come in for severe criticism from SAD (Panch Pardhani) president Daljit Singh Bittu, who accused him of showing disregard for the Akal Takht edict and standing in favour of the Sacha Sauda chief for political reasons.
"Sikhs can never forgive the Dera chief's blasphemous act (of dressing up like Sikh Guru) but the government remains unmoved even after (protesting) Sikhs have been sitting on roads," he said.
WHY TRY TO FIT IN? YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!
I posted something similar elsewhere as well when I read this...and I gotta ask... is this dera guy just being used as a scapegoat for our call for khalistan? I mean, Derawadi has been around in India since the very beginning of Sikhism...this guy wears a pink dress and he's a threat to Sikhi? per-lease...
ReplyDeleteAnyone who's EVER been to Punjab would know that there are a heck of a lot of other major problems to deal with...these guys may genuinely feel that what they are doing is righteous (I'm not trying to belittel them at all) but look at it from an outsiders' point of view and you'll realise they are (albeit unintentionally) making a mockery out of the 'Freedom Movement' and of Sikhs in general...are they not?
Vaheguru ji ka khalsa
ReplyDeleteVaheguru ji ki fateh
Shanu Kaur, Bhenji, I'm always happy to hear from you.
First, let me point out that this person, Gurmeet Raam Rahim 'Singh,' appears to be a murderer and rapist among other things, and needs to be prosecuted criminally on those grounds. However, due to his political power and corruption in Punjab this is unlikely to happen.
Second, there is no danger to Sikhi unless it is the Hukam of Vaheguru.
I live in a culture where just about all expressions of religion -pro and con - are allowed, both by law and tradition. While some of these expressions can be very painful, they don't freak me out nor do they frighten me.
India, however, has different laws concerning hurting the religious sensitivities of different communities. I am certain that if Sikhs started mocking Hindu practices in a similar way, we would feel the full weight of Indian 'justice'come barreling down on us and probably murderous violence, as well. Gurmeet Raam Rahim has clearly violated this law and we deserve to have it enforced against him. He DID, after all, mock Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj,however he may now try to deny it.
Westerners are not likely to understand, nor in my experience, make any attempt to understand, the cultural differences and to them, the actions of these zealous young men may - will - look like a silly, unnecessary overreaction. How do we deal with this lack of cultural sensitivity between East and West? Truly, I don't know. I think a little more understanding on both sides is called for. A plea which will go unheeded, I am sure.
In the meantime, I shall remain a public inconvenience and also remain in chardi kala in the midst of all these controversies, enjoying my ride across the Terrifying World-Ocean.
Chardi kala!
Right on!
ReplyDelete