Badal conferred highest Sikh title, radicals cry foul

Soul_jyot · #1 (**permalink**) 05-Dec-2011, 22:15 PM

Badal conferred highest Sikh title, radicals cry foul

Amritsar, Dec 5: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was Monday bestowed the "Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Qaum (Jewel of the religion, pride of the community)" title by the Sikh clergy here, drawing a strong reaction from Sikh radical groups.

The title was bestowed on Badal, who is the patron of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab, by Gurbachan Singh, the jathedar (head) of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikh religion, at a religious ceremony inside the Golden Temple complex here.

A spokesman said here that Badal was bestowed with the title, the highest in Sikh religion, "in recognition of his outstanding contribution and glorious services rendered by him during his long Panthic and political career".

Top Sikh clergy, including the heads of the Sikh high seats (Takhts) -- Gurbachan Singh (Akal Takht), Tarlochan Singh (Keshgarh Sahib) and Iqbal Singh (Patna Sahib) -- were present on the occasion.

Amidst religious slogans "Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal", Badal was honoured with a 'Siropa' (robe of honour), a sword and a silver plaque.

Badal's son and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is the Akali Dal president, was present among other religious and political leaders.

In his address, the Akal Takht head said: "The tradition to honour revered personalities by the Sikh Panth from Sri Akal Takht Sahib was in vogue since time immemorial."

He lauded the services rendered by Badal for the preservation of Sikh heritage by erecting memorials to Sikh martyrs, besides suffering imprisonment for long periods and having faced atrocities during various Akali morchas (movements).
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/india/37703-badal-conferred-highest-sikh-title-radicals.html

The citation read: "Patron of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Chief Minister, Punjab, Sardar Parkash Singh Badal, who presented before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, has been conferred with Siropa, the title of 'Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Qaum' in appreciation of his supreme services during his long panthic and political life. May God shower His blessings on Sardar Parkash Singh to enable him to lead a blissful life in the service of Sikh Panth."

The conferring of the Sikh religious title upon Badal evoked a strong reaction from Sikh radical organisations like the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) and the Dal Khalsa.

"We urge Sri Akal Takht Sahib to reconsider bestowing of Panth Ratan on Parkash Singh Badal and call Sarbat Khalsa to determine if Parkash Singh Badal, a political personality, is deserving candidate for Panth Ratan," an AISSF statement said here Monday.

The AISSF said that Badal was a controversial figure and should not have been given the title.

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37703
"Badal has a long history of betraying Sikh nation, from patronage of Nirankaris in the '70s to patronage of Dera Sacha Sauda. In 1984, thousands of Sikh soldiers deserted the Indian Army on the call given by Parkash Singh Badal and several hundred were killed. Badal later abandoned those Sikh soldiers and never rehabilitated them although he has been chief minister twice since then," the statement said.

It added that Badal had patronised police officers who had been responsible for killing hundreds of Sikh youths during Punjab's terrorism days.

The Dal Khalsa described the bestowing of the title to Badal as "a black chapter in the history of the Akal Takht".

Dal Khalsa spokesman Kanwar Pal Singh said Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Avtar Singh Makkar and Akal Takht jathedar Gurbachan Singh "have surpassed all records of sycophancy to appease their political master".

--IANS

source: http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/w...ws-120471.html

Ambarsaria · #2 (**permalink**) 05-Dec-2011, 22:50 PM

Another Article with a terrible punch line which includes the following,
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37703

............ radicals cry foul

I am sorry most intelligent non-radical people who care about Sikhism cry foul. These are not all radicals. Radicals are the people mis-using their positions.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37703

This is the same tactic that was used in 1984 pre and post. Anyone who did not support the Central Congress party line became a terrorist or radical.

What stupidity we let ourselves to persevere through.

Sat Sri Akal.

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #3 (**permalink**) 06-Dec-2011, 05:26 AM

Most APTLY put Ambarsariah ji...this is how the media and others with VESTED INTERESTS misuse/abuse/misportray..and misrepresent us...and sadly most of us fail to NOTICE/or PROTEST.
Attaching labels is so fashionable today..Radical..Congressi, Gadaar, GOI Agent, Raw Agent, Terrorist, Fundamentalist, Khalistani..etc etc are used to denigrate, chastise, disgrace whoever DISAGREES with ones own pet opinions and ways...as Bush put it..Either you are with US..or Against us...those "WITH US" are whitewashed pure and chaste..those "against us" are utter ******* of the gutter..too despicable even to mention..LOL.........
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37703
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37703
Thank you for setting the record straight...I am also a "RADICAL"..because i oppose this badal chamchagiri...

Soul_jyot · #4 (**permalink**) 06-Dec-2011, 10:54 AM

Sikh intellectuals seek criterion for Panth Rattan

Yudhvir Rana, TNN | Dec 6, 2011, 05.09AM IST

AMRITSAR: While jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh is going to bestow title of Panth Rattan Fakhar-e-Quom to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday, there is a demand from Sikh intelligentsia to lay down guidelines for giving such awards.

"There is no tradition of conferring such titles from Akal Takht, nor it is an annual feature and if such titles are to be conferred, Sikh high priests should lay down norms," said Balwant Singh Dhillon, professor at Guru Nanak studies department at Guru Nanak Dev University.

While justifying the title for Badal on the basis of his political services, he said high priests should also acknowledge the work of other Sikhs.

Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh said, "Jathedar of Akal Takht is going to write a black chapter in the history of the body. It appears as if an employee is honouring his employer."

Former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee secretary and one-time Badal loyalist Manjit Singh Calcutta said, "It is unfortunate and against the tenets of Sikhism as Panth Rattan title is not given to any living person." He said the title was given only to late SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37703

SGPC meet

The first meeting of newly-elected members of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee would be held on Monday to nominate 15 co-opted members of its house. Five members would be from Punjab while 10 would be from other states. The meeting would be presided over by deputy commissioner of Tarn Taran, Satwant Singh Johal. That's because Amritsar DC Rajat Aggarwal has gone on leave to avoid any controversy being a non-Sikh presiding over the meeting of the religion's mini-parliament. Many Sikh bodies had raised a hue and cry when Aggarwal had taken over charge of Amritsar DC as he is a Hindu
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37703

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...w/11000990.cms