2 jhuggis burnt, 10 hurt in clash
CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — In a clash over the payment of rent of jhuggis near Gurdwara Gursagar Sahib, as many as 10 persons were hurt while two jhuggis were gutted in a fire.

Blast in college room
AMRITSAR, Feb 12 — A crude bomb exploded in a class room of Laxmi Narayan ayurvedic college close to the Durgiana Mandir here this evening.

Varsity youth festival begins
PATIALA, Feb 12 — The three-day inter-zonal youth festival of Punjabi University got off a colourful start at Guru Tegh Bahadur Hall on the campus here today.

Inter-state gang busted, 10 held
ROPAR, Feb 12 — The Ropar police busted a 23-member inter-state gang by arresting 10 persons last night from a bridge near Sirsa Nangal village, about 10 km from here.

Pensioners seek revised grades
MOGA, Feb 12 — The Punjab Pensioners Association at its meeting held here today urged the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the Punjab Finance Minister, Mr Kanwaljit Singh, to immediately accept their demands as per the recommendations of Fourth Punjab Pay Commission.

Rightist parties blamed for attacks
AMRITSAR, Feb 12 — A National Minorities Commission member, Dr James Massey, today held the rightist groups in the country responsible for the attacks on Christians and alleged that all these incidents were inter-linked.

Action sought against PCO owners
MOGA, Feb 12 — The Moga Consumers Association at a meeting held here today alleged that local owners of STD PCO units for overcharging the rates of local calls range from Rs 2 to Rs 4 against Re 1 sanctioned by the Telecommunication Department.

Time to define SGPC, Akal Takht powers
by Gobind Thukral
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — Akal Takht, the seat of Miri and Piri established in 1605 by Guru Hargobind, is now the focus of a heated controversy. After the sacrifice of his predecessor, Guru Arjan Dev, it was a turning point in Sikh history because from then onwards, Sikhism instead of being a vehicle of piety and reform, took up the sword for its cause.

The first Jathedar was Bhai Gurdas, who guided the affairs of the Sikhs till 1694. He was an excellent scholar and a poet. Interestingly, Guru Gobind Singh, who founded the Khalsa in 1699, never visited Akal Takht.

The present day role and the controversy that surrounds Akal Takht has two aspects. A question pertinently asked is what position the Jathedar enjoys as per the Sikh history and as per the All-India Gurdwara Act. There is a sharp clash of arguments.

One school of thought would reckon that anyone appointed Jathedar should be for life and could guide and interfere in all religious and social affairs of the community or qaum. He could issue edicts, summon Sikhs (to explain their conduct) to pardon or punish them. The position has always been held in awe. In the past, a large number of Sikh leaders, both Akalis and even non-Akalis, including at least one senior Congress leader, were summoned.

Since 1925, appointments have been largely made by the SGPC, an elected body that came into being after the All-India Gurdwara Act. Some kind of consensus was at times built before the appointment. Since the Jathedar enjoyed vast powers, whosoever controlled the SGPC, chose persons to suit his political needs. After Jathedar Kirpal Singh's death, five Jathedars have come and gone in quick succession. Now Jathedar Puran Singh, has been appointed in a surcharged atmosphere. Except for this appointment, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SGPC President for a quarter of century, had been calling the shots. The suspended Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh, was appointed in June 1990 when he was undergoing imprisonment in Tihar jail. He assumed charge in December 1996.

There has been also a tradition, particularly during the period of misls, (confederation of warrior lords) when they collected on Baisakhi or Divali and passed "gurmata" to help end their feuds. Since the Jathedar is the one who saw the implementation of such gurmatas and hukamnamas, his powers increased. But essentially, he has been the modern-day director. With the consent of the sangat or Sarbat Khalsa, he imposed fines and punishments as well.

The other school of thinking is that after the Gurdwara Act, all other traditional and customary positions and powers have ceased. Now there is an elected body of Sikhs, designed to guide religious affairs.

The Act also makes clear mention of the Jathedars whom it calls head ministers. Section 43 when it talks about the SGPC Board, mentions four Takhts, besides the Darbar Sahib, (Amritsar). In fact, the prime position is given to the "head minister" (or priest) of Darbar Sahib. It is followed by "head ministers" of Akal Takht, Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib) and two other Takhts at Patna Sahib and Hazoor Sahib (Nanded).

Duties of these head ministers too are mentioned in Section 4. It says; "A minister means an office holder to whom either solely or along with others the control of the management or performance of public worship in a gurdwara and of the rituals and ceremonies observed therein is entrusted." The powers have to be entrusted specifically. By virtue of being head ministers all these Jathedars are members of the board and are therefore, governed by the Act. Sections 134 and 135 explicitly state the conditions and procedures of removal.

It is also argued that the Akal Takht Jathedar is appointed by the SGPC, a representative body and can be removed only by that body. The role of Sikh saints or Singh Sabhas is secondary.

There had been stalwarts like Bhai Mani Singh in 1794, Nawab Kapur Singh in 1810, Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia in 1804 and Akali Phula Singh in 1879. Nihangs of the Budha Dal controlled this office till 1920. The British used this office by appointing "sarbaras". Bhai Arur Singh was removed after he had conferred the robe of honour Gen. Dyer of Jallianwala Bagh notoriety. Later there were Jathedars like Udham Singh Nagoke, Gurmukh Singh Musafir who later joined the Congress to become Chief Minister of Punjab and Mohan Singh Nagoke.

The present controversy hinges on the fact, that the now suspended Jathedar has issued a record number of hukamnamas which instead of uniting the Sikhs, led to a fratricidal divisions. Consensus was missing. So much so that he ignored and chided the chiefs of other Takhts — he even summoned one of them. This has rarely happened. The three Jathedars of Keshgarh Sahib, Nanded Sahib and Damdama Sahib were on one side and Akal Takht Jathedar on the other. The head ministers of Darbar Sahib, Bhai Mohan Singh, once supported him, but later took a neutral position.

Basically, it is the fight between the two Akali stalwarts, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC Chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra that has led to this division and pushed Akal Takht into controversy. Some feel that this is the time to define these institutions and their roles, particularly in the modern context when the SGPC is an elected body as is the government in Punjab led by the Akalis.

US-based Sikh bodies decry Jathedar’s suspension
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — Several USA-based Sikh organisations today condemned the suspension of Bhai Ranjit Singh, Jathedar of Akal Takht.

The organisations are the Kalgidhar Gatka Dal, the Ujjaldidar Singh Trust, the Sahibjada Fateh Singh Society, the Gurdwara Sahib, the United Sikh Human Rights Defence Committee, the Sikh Organisation of California, the World Sikh Council, American Region, the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee and the Sikh Youth of America.

These organisations, in their separate fax messages, said the suspension of Bhai Ranjit Singh was not approved by the president of the SGPC nor was any meeting called for taking action against him. Therefore, his suspension was illegal. They said that certain individuals who took this decision were guilty of gross violation of the rules for the SGPC membership and were facing disqualification not only from the Executive Committee but also from the general body members of the SGPC.

These organisations appreciated the decision taken by Bhai Mohan Singh, who refused to yield to government pressure and declined to accept the position of Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib and supported Bhai Ranjit Singh. They urged Giani Puran Singh to follow the example set by Bhai Mohan Singh and not to play into the hands of the enemies of the Panth.

They said Mr Parkash Singh Badal and his political associates were interfering in religious affairs of the Sikhs and using some members of the SGPC Executive Committee to promote their designs.

"The flooding of the Darbar Sahib complex with plain-clothed police is reminiscent of the gruesome invasions of the past and constitutes a disgraceful act by the Badal government. It is shame that Mr Badal whose party came to power because of the solid support of the Sikh nation, has turned his back on the Panth and is out to destroy the highest seat of spiritual and temporal authority of the Sikhs".

Support conditional, say Mann, Wadala
From Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

FATEHGARH SAHIB, Feb 12 — "The SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who is involved in a feud with the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, will not get our support on a platter", said Mr Simranjit Singh Mann and Mr Kuldeep Singh Wadala, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and the Democratic Akali Dal, respectively, here today.

Both the leaders had organised a political conference here at Todar Mal Hall to celebrate the 52nd birth anniversary of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. It is for the first time that the birth anniversary of Sant Jarnail Singh has been celebrated after Operation Bluestar.

Talking to TNS before the beginning of the conference, Mr Mann said Mr Tohra would have to accept certain conditions laid down by him with regard to certain programmes and policies and if he accepted these only then the issue of extending support to him could be discussed by his party by calling a meeting.

"Earlier, I had a very bitter experience of joining hands with Mr Tohra when the Amritsar declaration was prepared. After leaving me in the political lurch, Mr Tohra joined Mr Badal's bandwagon. I was sent to jail, Mr Mann said. He said Mr Tohra had moved late in starting a campaign against Mr Badal. He should have done this much earlier, he opined.

He said under Mr Badal's rule the state was heading towards "anarchy from lethargy". The development process in the state had come to a standstill. Hospitals were devoid of medicines, people were not getting basic facilities and consequently the SAD-BJP government had completely isolated itself from the people in the state. Neither was there any progress on the social, economic or political front.

Comparing suspended Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh with "great Sikh warriors", Mr Mann said he would hold a meeting with Mr Wadala soon to announce a joint programme for protesting against the suspension of Bhai Ranjit Singh. He said Mr Badal should explain to the Panth why the police was sent to the Golden Temple complex. "We will make this a public issue", he added.

Mr Mann had a word of advice for Mrs Sonia Gandhi, President of the All-India Congress Committee. He urged her to immediately make an all-out attempt to unseat the BJP-led government at the Centre. He said the central government should have been removed by the Congress much earlier. He alleged "militant Hindu organisations" like the Bajrang Dal were raping and killing Christians and attacking other minorities under the patronage of the BJP-led government at the Centre.

Justifying the celebration of the birth anniversary of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Mr Mann said he waited for 15 years for Akali leaders to come forward to organise such a celebration.

He announced he would take the initiative for forming a minorities front in the country to counter attacks on them. He made a dig on the Akali leaders and others who did not come to take part in the celebrations.

There was a feeling in the Mann camp that even Mr Tohra dodged Mr Mann as far as taking part in today's function here was concerned. Mr Tohra deliberately timed his submitting resignation to Bhai Ranjit Singh at Amritsar today as he did not want to take part in today's conference and be identified with hardliners like Mr Mann and other groups like the Dal Khalsa which attended the conference, said a senior leader of the Akali Dal (Amritsar).

Mr Mann declared he would achieve the "political goal" fixed by him through democratic and peaceful means. He also presented a siropa to Mrs Pritam Kaur, wife of late Jarnail Singh, and Mrs Gurnam Kaur, mother of Harjinder Singh Jinda, a militant who was hanged to death after his conviction in the General Vaidya murder case.

Mr Wadala before addressing the conference told TNS Mr Tohra’s approach towards Mr Badal was half-hearted. He said he would be prepared to extend support to Mr Tohra for his "war" against Mr Badal, if the SGPC chief agreed to serve an ultimatum on Mr Badal.

When asked what he meant by ultimatum, Mr Wadala said Mr Tohra should tell Mr Badal clearly that all MLAs and SGPC members belonging to his (Mr Tohra’s) faction would resign if he (Mr Badal) did not appoint working president of the SAD by such and such date and improved the functioning of his government.

He said he was neither against Hindus nor the country but only against Hindutwa. He called on all like-minded political groups to come together and jointly prepare for the Lok Sabha elections which, according to him were not too far. He said Mr Badal had failed to provide a clean government and most of his ministers were neck-deep in corruption.

As many as eight resolutions were passed at the conference. These included demand for general amnesty for Sikhs detained in jails, rehabilitation of Sikh Army deserters and victims of 1984 riots, demand for setting up a university in memory of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and issuance of a commemoration stamp of the sant. A resolution was also passed to guard the ideology and thoughts of Jarnail Singh and condemnation of the suspension of Bhai Ranjit Singh.

Through another resolution, Mr Badal was urged to accept either Anandpur Sahib resolution or Amritsar declaration of sovereign Sikh rule.

Among those who spoke on this occasion were Mr Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, Bhai Dian Singh Mand, a former MP, Bhai Manjit Singh, Mr Kanwarpal Singh Dhami and Mr Sarbjit Singh of the Dal Khalsa. There was brisk sale of calendars and photos of Sant Jarnail Singh just adjacent to the conference.

Puran Singh’s installation deferred
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Feb 12 — The installation of the newly appointed Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh, has been deferred by one day. Earlier, as announced it was to have taken place on February 14.

The Jathedar had come under tremendous pressure from the warring factions. The Damdami Taksal with whom Giani Puran Singh had very close association and the Sant Samaj owing allegiance to Bhai Ranjit Singh had appealed to the newly appointed Jathedar not to accept his new assignment. Mr Tohra, SGPC President, indicated here today efforts were still on to woo him not to accept the post.

In the meantime, the pro-Badal group and the police had been keeping a tight security vigil around Giani Puran Singh's residence while mounting pressure on him to stick to his decision of acceptance of the post of Jathedar. The security guards on duty outside his house were maintaining a register taking note of all visitors coming to meet him.

Earlier in the day, Giani Puran Singh paid obeisance at Akal Takht and performed his routine religious duties at the Golden Temple.

Water pollution in Ludhiana ‘alarming’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — Good quality of groundwater has become vulnerable in a number of cities in Punjab due to increased urbanisation and industrialisation.

This was highlighted in several technical papers at the ongoing seminar on "Geological aspects of environment" being organised by the Department of Geology at Panjab University here today. Also highlighted was the problem of waterlogging.

Dr M.Mehta and Dr S. Marwaha, Central Ground Water Board, said industrialisation in Ludhiana had led to an adverse impact on groundwater quality. The city had 1,311 industries out of which 104 were reported to be generating 3,601 tonnes of hazardous waste per year. The waste is discharged into the open ground or into the Budha Nala.

Industries were unloading about 500 kg of heavy metal into the Budha Nala. Industrial effluents enter the groundwater and pollute the shallow aquifer. The situation is so alarming in Ludhiana that the central groundwater authorities have put restriction on constructing any additional groundwater structure in the city, the paper said.

Dr K.P. Singh, of PU’s Geology Department, showed results of analysis of sediments from unsaturated zones in the Ludhiana area. The results indicated presence of nickel, chromium and cyanide up to five metres deep.

One of the papers pointed out that there was a significant rise in the water levels which resulted in huge areas being waterlogged. Long-term water level data analysis had shown that in 34 per cent of Punjab the water levels is rising. In the rest of the area, a fall in the water levels trend has been observed.

Three other main areas of discussion at the seminar were "natural hazards and environment"; "Mining activity and environment", and "Geochemical and biochemical pollution of rivers and lakes".

Among the significant papers presented were by Dr N.S.Virdi, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dr A.K.Pachauri, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Roorkee, Dr A.K.Biyani, DBS College, Dehra Dun, Dr A.K.Wangu, Geological Survey of India and Dr Gurdeep Singh, Indian School of Mines.

2 jhuggis burnt, 10 hurt in clash
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — In a clash over the payment of rent of jhuggis near Gurdwara Gursagar Sahib, as many as 10 persons were hurt while two jhuggis were gutted in a fire.

More than 250 jhuggis have been "allowed" to come up since 1992 on a piece of land measuring about two and a half acres adjacent to forest land near the gurdwara. The land reportedly belongs to Mr Gurnam Singh Sidhu who has been collecting rent at the rate of Rs 150 per jhuggi. He is said to be close to a prominent Punjab politician.

The trouble arose a couple of days ago when the jhuggi dwellers , reportedly on the instigation of a local 'politician' lawyer, refused to pay the rent claiming that the entire land belonged to the Forest Department and the landlord had been wrongly collecting rent from them all these years.

This stance of the dwellers is said to have "infuriated" the landlord who tried to block the entrances to the colony by erecting high earthen bundhs yesterday. A clash was averted with the timely arrival of the police who asked both parties to maintain peace.

The jhuggi dwellers alleged that about 7 p.m. today, more than 100 persons on a tractor trolley, armed with lathis, descended on the colony and started beating up the persons who were asking the jhuggi dwellers not to pay the rent. While this was going on, the residents too retaliated and clashed with the intruders in which many persons, including a child and three women were injured and had to be rushed to the Sector 16 General Hospital.

The condition of two persons is stated to be serious.

Talking to TNS jhuggi dwellers said that the occupants of the two jhuggis allegedly set afire by the intruders were rickshawpullers and had not yet arrived. The belongings of the two had been completely destroyed. They alleged that the police had neither arrested the landlord nor any of the attackers.

Prof, son hurt in amusement park accident
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Feb 12 — A Punjabi University teacher and his teenaged son suffered injuries last night at the "Jurassic Park" fun world amusement centre here when a trolley of a joy-ride decoupled and flew off in a tangent at high speed.

Unruly scenes were witnessed at the amusement park after the incident at 9.15 p.m. as the joy rides had to be stopped by the organisers. The matter however, was brought under control by the manager of the fun world, who pacified the angry crowd by admitting the mechanical failure.

Dr Guriqbal Singh Sandhu of the Law Department, Punjabi University, suffered a hair-line fracture and his son suffered injuries in the freak accident. He said he was enjoying the ride along with some other persons when the trolley suddenly came off and all of them had a nasty fall. He has demanded a compensation from the owners. A complaint has also been lodged with the police.

Mr Ronald Paul, manager of the amusement park, said it was a minor mechanical failure which had happened for the first time. He assured that all amusement games were safe and there was no need to panic. He said he had promised to give compensation to the injured persons.

Blast in college room

AMRITSAR, Feb 12 (UNI) — A crude bomb exploded in a class room of Laxmi Narayan ayurvedic college close to the Durgiana Mandir here this evening. However, there was no casualties as the college was closed. Police officials who visited the spot said that a portion of the class room in which the explosion occurred was damaged. Further investigations are being conducted, but officials claimed that it was a minor blast.

Varsity youth festival begins
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Feb 12 — The three-day inter-zonal youth festival of Punjabi University got off a colourful start at Guru Tegh Bahadur Hall on the campus here today.

Over 500 student artistes from various affiliated colleges of the university are competing in 27 events.

The team from S.D. College, Barnala, bagged first prize in gidha, while the second prize went to Khalsa College, Patiala. In Bhangra, it was Khalsa College, Patiala, which secured top position, while Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, came second.

Earlier, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Punjab, inaugurated the festival. He said youth festivals provide an opportunity to students for the exhibition of their talent and all-round personality development.

Inter-state gang busted, 10 held
From Our Correspondent

ROPAR, Feb 12 — The Ropar police busted a 23-member inter-state gang by arresting 10 persons last night from a bridge near Sirsa Nangal village, about 10 km from here. Mr Didar Singh, SHO of the sadar police station, and Mr Malwinder Singh, incharge, police post at Kiratpur Sahib, made the arrests.

Giving this information here today, Mr Jaskaran Singh, SSP, said the members of the gang worked as labourers during day time and committed robberies at night.

The SSP said, the police had recovered two pistols, a rifle, seven cartridges, three bicycles, a scooter and a moped from them.

He said the arrested persons had confessed having committed robberies in the Kurali-Kharar areas. They also admitted having looted a house in the Sahnewal (Ludhiana) area.

Mr Jaskaran Singh also said the gang members had admitted that they were involved in 45 criminal cases. Besides these, they had also committed thefts in 25 gurdwaras and temples by breaking open the donation boxes.

The gang was also involved in cases of robbery and murder committed in Gajipur, Gianpur and Sultanpur districts. One of the arrested persons, Bagwat, was wanted in connection with a murder case.

According to the SSP a case had been registered at the local sadar police station under Sections 399 and 402 of the IPC and Sections 25,54 and 59 of the Arms Act.

Pensioners seek revised grades
From Our Correspondent

MOGA, Feb 12 — The Punjab Pensioners Association at its meeting held here today urged the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the Punjab Finance Minister, Mr Kanwaljit Singh, to immediately accept their demands as per the recommendations of Fourth Punjab Pay Commission. It said the pensioners' demands should be accepted by making adequate provisions in the Budget.

Members further said the central government had notified that the pre-January, 1996, pensioners of the state government would be brought on a par with the post-January, 1996, category by revising their pensions at least up to 50 per cent of the minimum of the revised grades.

They further demanded old-age allowance, travel concessions, gratuity revision of pensions as adopted by the state government.

Rightist parties blamed for attacks
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Feb 12 — A National Minorities Commission member, Dr James Massey, today held the rightist groups in the country responsible for the attacks on Christians and alleged that all these incidents were inter-linked. Dr Massey in a written statement issued here today said that what dismayed him most was the charge of forced conversions of Adivasis that was levied against the missionaries.

He said one important finding of his enquiries as member of the commission was that tribal communities were being used against one another, which he claimed had sinister overtones.

The member felt that the hoax of mass conversions was being spread to create hatred among different groups of innocent tribals. He alleged that neither the state government nor any other social group had been able to establish any conclusive proof of forced conversions.

Dr Massey pointed that the Central or the state governments did not have the will to implement the recommendations of the National Minorities Commission and it was essential to generate political awareness to cope up with the present situation.

Meanwhile, in Phillaur over 200 persons belonging to the Christian community and Moolbasi Party, organised a protest march and staged a dharna in front of the office of SDM here today, in protest against the atrocities on Dalits and Christians.

A rally was also organised and it was addressed by Mr Harjinder Jakho, president of the Moolbasi Party and Mr William Joseph, priest of a local church. While addressing the rally both demanded immediate ban on communal parties.

Action sought against PCO owners
From Our Correspondent

MOGA, Feb 12 — The Moga Consumers Association at a meeting held here today alleged that local owners of STD PCO units for overcharging the rates of local calls range from Rs 2 to Rs 4 against Re 1 sanctioned by the Telecommunication Department.

Members further charged that these owners increased the pulse rates of their units. They have urged the local administration to take stern action against such persons.