According to a news report
published by “Yes Punjab”, a news service website edited and owned by Senior
Journalist H.S. Bawa: “Balwinder Singh, the controversial Sarpanch of
village Waraich who took the much criticized decision to ‘sell’ and
‘transfer’ Gurdwara Baba Jiwan Singh is now waving August 15 directive
issued by Sikh clergy to oppose the call of an Ardaas Samagam’ scheduled for
September 2 at Waraich Gurdwara given by some panthic organizations”.
As per reports Balwinder Singh,
accompanied by more than a dozen Sarpanches of Vidhan Sabha Constituency
Baba Bakala, Tuesday, addressed a press conference on the issue of Waraich
Gurdwara at Jalandhar. The pro-dera Radha Swami Beas Sarpanches, panchayat
members and Balwinder Singh said that the call given by panthic groups to
hold a ‘Ardaas Samagam’ at the site of Gurdwara Waraich would vitiate the
‘cordial atmosphere’ of the area. It is pertinent to mention here that SAD
Amritsar, Akali Dal Panch Pardhani, Dal Khalsa, Khalsa Action Committee,
Panthic Sewa Lehar, Damdami Taksal Ajnala and Guru Granth Sahib Satkar
Committee had given a call for an ‘Ardaas Samagam’ at Waraich on 2nd of
September.
They had also called a conference
on the same issue on 20th of September at Rayya. “The Sarpanches and other
leaders distributed copies of the directive of Akal Takht issued under the
signatures of five Sikh high priests on August 15. In this directive, the
four Sikh high priests had endorsed the decision of Akal Takht Jathedar
Giani Gurbachan Singh. Giani Gurbachan Singh, had earlier held that nothing
wrong had been done in the case of dismantling of Gurdwara Waraich by Dera
Radha Soami” reports YP. They appealed to SAD Amritsar president Simranjit
Singh Mann and other panthic groups not to go ahead with the scheduled
programmes and also not to plan such programmes in future, YP report adds.
Even as Balwinder Singh produced
documents justifying his acts and to prove how people have ‘sold’ their
properties voluntarily to the Dera, he was at loss of words when asked about
the ‘Pind Bachao Committee’ formed by aggrieved persons. More than hundred
people have gone to court to get justice regarding their properties, it has
been learnt. It is notable that Dera enjoys extensive political backing and
grants to Village Panchayats of the area are said to be granted and
distributed according to directions of Dera Radha Swami Beas.
According to YP report those
present included Jathedar Ranjit Singh Seron, Harmel Singh Cheema Panchayat
Member Waraich, Sukhjinder Singh Sarpanch Seron, Sarwan Singh Sarpanch
Khanpur, Sukhdev Singh Bittu Sarpanch Jhalari, Mukhtar Singh Sarpanch Jodhe,
Jaswant Singh Sarpanch Wazir Bhullar, Balkar Singh Bal Sarpanch Bal Sarai,
Jawinder Singh Dhillon Sarpanch Budha Theh, Joginder Kaur Sarpanch Ajit
Nagar, Daljit Singh Sarpanch Bhaini Ram Dayal, Taranbir Singh Sarpanch
Khashi, Munsha Ram Sarpanch Guru Nanakpura Beas, Amritpal Singh Sarpanch
Beas, Jasbir Singh Sarpanch Nanak Sar – Sathiala, Baljit Singh Bhatti
Sarpanch Sathiala, Sarwan Singh Sarpanch Khanpur, Mehanga Singh Sarpanch
Guru Tegh Bhadur Nagar – Sathiala, Kulwant Singh Katon Sarpanch Narangpur
Butala, Yadvinder Singh Sabi Sarpanch Rajpur, Prithipal Singh Sarpanch
Rajadeval, former Inspector Harbhajan Singh village Seron and Baljinder
Singh Johdhe.
