Takht won't honour Sonia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Sept 19 — Akal Takht chief, Bhai Ranjit Singh has said that he won’t honour Mrs Sonia Gandhi, President Indian National Congress, during her proposed visit to Amritsar next month even if she apologises for Operation Bluestar.

Talking to the media at the Akal Takht, here today, Bhai Ranjit Singh said that it was the prerogative of the ‘sangat’ (congregation) to decide whether her apology should be accepted or not as Operation Bluestar was ordered by the Congress, the party which she was now heading.

When his attention was drawn to the honouring of Queen Elizabeth, he replied that she was honoured by him with ‘simran’ as she was also the head of the Church of England.

Bhai Ranjit Singh, however, said that Mrs Sonia Gandhi was welcome to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple or Akal Takht.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee had already announced that Mrs Gandhi would not be honoured by the committee during her proposed visit to the Golden Temple because of Operation Bluestar.

In a significant statement, Bhai Ranjit Singh said that not only Sikhs but non-Sikhs could approach the Akal Takht for ‘exoneration’ for mistakes or excesses against Sikhs.

Referring to Operation Bluestar, Bhai Ranjit Singh replied in the affirmative to whether the Congress party could approach the Akal Takht for tendering an apology. It may be mentioned here that no case pertaining to non-Sikhs has been handled by the Akal Takht so far. He, however, said that if the Congress approaches the Takht for tendering an apology for Operation Bluestar, it was still the prerogative of the ‘sangat’ to accept the apology or not.

To a question, Bhai Ranjit Singh reiterated that he would not allow the participation of Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh in takht affairs until they clarify certain points before the Sikh sangat, including submission of accounts of the World Sikh Council.

In a related tactical move, the Akal Takht chief, Bhai Ranjit Singh disclosed his moveable and immovable assets today. The step seems to be aimed at checkmating Prof Manjit Singh against whom he has levelled charges of ‘embezzlement’.

Bhai Ranjit Singh said that he had no agricultural land in his name or other immovable property. He however, said that he had a car and a jeep, apart from a house given him by the Sikh sangat. He said that the sangat can take back the house at any time. He said he had no money in any bank account.

Mr Baldev Singh Sibia, vice-chairman of the World Sikh Council, said that Bhai Ranjit Singh had become the first jathedar to disclose his property. He said notwithstanding their claims, even Akali ministers had not disclosed their assets so far.

In an unrelated development the World Sikh Council (WSC) today constituted a "Sarbat da Bhala" (welfare for all) Trust under the aegis of Akal Takht. It will help destitutes and needy irrespective of caste, creed and religion. The WSC will also constitute two more trusts, a "press trust" and an "education trust" shortly. The "press trust" will also bring out a daily newspaper and a global magazine to counter a "section of hostile press".

More than Rs 30 lakh had been collected on the spot on the call of Bhai Ranjit Singh who appealed to the ‘Sikh sangat’ to donate at least Rs 101 per year today. The trust will collect billions of rupees to run it on a "secular, democratic" basis as not only Sikhs , but Hindus, Muslims and persons belonging to other religions would be given liberal financial aid.

The Akal Takht chief, SGPC chief and WSC chief will be the permanent trustees of the trusts. The three would appoint more trustees, including from foreign countries, shortly.

Bhai Ranjit Singh said that as WSC funds had been ‘embezzeled’ in the past, there would in future be transparency in the working of the trusts, and receipts would be given by Akal Takht on donations. He urged the SGPC to place ‘golkas’ in some historic gurdwaras for collecting the money for the trusts.

Justice Kuldip Singh (retd) while speaking on the occasion said that branches of the council had been opened in England, America and other countries. He said that each month accounts of the trusts would be made public and give full details of donations. He further said that the "Sarbat da Bhala Trust" was constituted on true Sikh tenets and was a step towards ‘nationalism’.

Members of the Sant Samaj, including Baba Sarbjot Singh Bedi of Una said that Bhai Ranjit Singh had emerged as an undisputed Jathedar of Akal Takht.