RSS offshoot plans to take over leadership of Sikh affairs

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 5

The Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), is ready to take over the leadership of the social and religious affairs of the Sikhs. Admitting that the political domination in decision making of the Akal Takht had diminished its prestige, the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat said it had led to a vacuum in leadership of the Sikh community, which it is ready to fill.

The Sikh offshoot of the RSS has also made it clear that they support the Sarbat Khalsa called on November 10, but only if the congregation of the Sikhs did not pursue a separatist agenda (call for Khalistan) and if the conveners of the Sarbat Khalsa were ready not to take up any political stand, be it blaming the Akali leadership or the BJP leadership.

As long as the Sarbat Khalsa restricts itself to finding a solution to religious and social crisis in the Sikh community, the outfit was ready to be a part of the Sarbat Khalsa.

The Rashtriya Sikh Sangat has been slowly spreading its wings in Punjab, mainly through organising seminars on Sikhism and its teachings and by organising social events like blood donation camps and health check-up camps.

Apparently, the Sikh offshoot of the RSS is trying to penetrate into Punjab’s social fabric through the use of religion and social welfare.

It had earlier restricted its activities in Punjab and was concentrating on other states. But with the growing feeling of a vacuum developing in the socio-religio-politico leadership of the Sikh community, the Sikh body has become more active in Punjab of late.

While denying that they were a political force, the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat leaders, who also met the Punjab Governor and submitted a memorandum against the threat to peace created by incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, said that they were not keen on taking over the political leadership of Sikh community.

“We are opposed to the ‘maryada’ of the Akal Takht being lowered by those trying to use it for political gains. These people should appear before the Akal Takht and seek forgiveness for trying to diminish the prestige of Akal Takht,” said the Sikh body’s national organising secretary Avinash Jaiswal and national general secretary Avtar Singh Shastri.

They, however, refrained from stating who was using the Akal Takht for political gains.

Talking to The Tribune here today, the two leaders said that the tenets of Sikhism professed that all who seek forgiveness be granted so.

“But we are opposed to the way pardon was granted to the Dera Sacha Sauda chief without following the rituals for grant of pardon. The Sikh Sangat reacted sharply and, for the first time, the decision (grant of pardon) was rejected by the entire community, forcing them to take back the decision,” said Avtar Singh Shastri, adding that the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat completely rejected this decision taken under political domination.

The Sikh Sangat leaders said that the Akal Takht should act independently and remain unbiased as it was envisaged by the Sikh Gurus. Otherwise, it will lead to the downfall of the community and the Sikhs will be left rudderless, they said.