• Welcome to all New Sikh Philosophy Network Forums!
    Explore Sikh Sikhi Sikhism...
    Sign up Log in

Controversial Akal Takht Seeks Clarification From Gurdwara Rochester Management USA

Status
Not open for further replies.

spnadmin

1947-2014 (Archived)
SPNer
Jun 17, 2004
14,500
19,219
By Gurpreet Singh Mehak

FATEHGARH SAHIB: World Sikh Council-America Region (WSC-AR), a representative body of Sikh institutions of America has hailed the directions of Akal Takht on Gurdwara of Rochester(GOR), New York.

Dr Taranjit Singh, secretary general of WSC-AR informed this correspondent that the WSC-AR is a representative and elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions in the United States and its members include 46 Gurdwaras and other Sikh institutions, across the nation.

He said Board of Trustees of GOR to win their management dispute, has done the despicable misdeed of banning the Kirpan by making false and misleading statements in the court of law. This action has lead to prohibiting the entry of Amritdharis(baptized) into the Gurdwara.

He said WSC-AR has been making every effort for a long time to emphasize, to the Board of Trustees (BOT) of GOR, the significance of Guru Gobind Singh’s gift of the five ‘Kakaars’ to Sikh community , and has been trying to make them realize that any Sikh place that imposes any kind of restriction on any of the five Kakaars cannot be accepted as a Gurdwara. Despite this, BOT of GOR have misrepresented the significance of the Kakaars in their sworn affidavits to obtain a court order against wearing the Kirpan.

Dr Taranjit Singh after failing in all its attempts to engage the BOR of GOR in dialogue and in getting the restrictions on the Kirpan lifted, WSC-AR was left with no alternative except to approach Akal Takht and they have recently received letter from the Takht Secretariat . The copy of letter was also sent to Santokh Singh Badesha and other trustees of GOR, directing them to provide clarification on their ‘anti-Panth’ activities to Akal Takht before next steps are taken.

As per letter issued from Akal Takht to GOR trustees , it has come to our attention from reports on the management dispute of the GOR , and from studying the documents submitted by you on this issue to American Judge Kenneth Fisher of Monroe County ,New York that exploiting the American judges’ lack of complete knowledge about the Sikh faith, you have made highly misleading and false statements to them about the fundamental principles and rules of the Sikh faith. In these statements, you have mocked the holy Sikh Kakaars with the selfish motive of winning your lawsuit. Presenting the holy Kirpan - as a demon in the court, you have done the despicable misdeed of getting a ban enacted on it.

To fulfill these selfish aims of yours, you have gravely insulted Sikh Guru’s seal, the holy Sikh Kakaars, by labeling them as ‘so-called’ Kakaars in your documents presented to the court. Continuing your false statements on the principle of the Sikh Kirpan and Khande-Baate-di-Pahul, despite your own cut Kes (hair), you have claimed yourself in the American court to be an Amritdhari Sikh, which is absolutely false and is nothing more than the despicable misdeed of mocking Khande-Baate’s code of conduct. According to the Sikh principles, code of conduct and tradition, a person who cuts his holy hair cannot be called a Sikh. As per the letter, Gurdwara belong to all, in which everybody has the freedom to come and pray and no devotee can be banned from coming to Gurdwara


http://www.punjabnewsline.com/conte...ation-gurdwara-rochester-management-usa/29856
 

Attachments

  • sikh-sangat-at-akal-takht-after-1984.jpg
    sikh-sangat-at-akal-takht-after-1984.jpg
    41.3 KB · Reads: 322

Gyani Jarnail Singh

Sawa lakh se EK larraoan
Mentor
Writer
SPNer
Jul 4, 2004
7,706
14,381
75
KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA
This is very nicely worded POLITE request to the Clean Shaven Pardhaan/Trustee of the Rochestor Gurdwara..and NO TIME FRAME required for his reply either....SEVEN LONG MONTHS AFTER COMPLAINT was sent to Akal takhat !!

A Far cry from the absolutely rude and hasty action, almost immediate time frame for reply etc applied on other cases...example Prof Prof Darshan Singh Ji Khalsa's alleged kirtan in this very same Gurdwara...........and the filing of a criminal case in Punjab against Joginder Singh of Rozana Spokesman without notice/time frame to answer...
 
Last edited:

Gyani Jarnail Singh

Sawa lakh se EK larraoan
Mentor
Writer
SPNer
Jul 4, 2004
7,706
14,381
75
KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA
http://www.rozanaspokesman.com/pages/Mar\27\frs2.jpg

Last Vasakhi day a Clean Shaven Patit performed ARDASS at this Gurdwara. When he was questioned about the words Sikhi daan, Kes daan, etc in ardass he just "uttered" was he being SINCERE or just repeating the ardass as a hypocrite........he refused to answer. No action was taken on this complaint sent one year ago...highly selective prosecution methods..???:redturban:japposatnamwaheguru::redturban:
 

Ajay Singh

SPNer
Jul 3, 2010
35
46
Letter to Santokh Badesha and his team members from Akal Takhat seeking clarification
 

Attachments

  • 5231d1301279341-akal-takht-seeks-clarification-gurdwara-rochester-194071_173466386038651_1000012.jpg
    5231d1301279341-akal-takht-seeks-clarification-gurdwara-rochester-194071_173466386038651_1000012.jpg
    315.1 KB · Reads: 345

Ajay Singh

SPNer
Jul 3, 2010
35
46
Rozana Spoksman News
 

Attachments

  • 197915_174427099275913_100001258716903_451264_939111_n.jpg
    197915_174427099275913_100001258716903_451264_939111_n.jpg
    113.8 KB · Reads: 283

Ajay Singh

SPNer
Jul 3, 2010
35
46
PunjabiWriterWeekly
 

Attachments

  • 5233d1301279621-akal-takht-seeks-clarification-gurdwara-rochester-191712_174216815963608_1000012.jpg
    5233d1301279621-akal-takht-seeks-clarification-gurdwara-rochester-191712_174216815963608_1000012.jpg
    269.9 KB · Reads: 306

Ajay Singh

SPNer
Jul 3, 2010
35
46
PunjabExpressUsa
 

Attachments

  • 5234d1301279904-akal-takht-seeks-clarification-gurdwara-rochester-201916_174215009297122_1000012.jpg
    5234d1301279904-akal-takht-seeks-clarification-gurdwara-rochester-201916_174215009297122_1000012.jpg
    277 KB · Reads: 271

spnadmin

1947-2014 (Archived)
SPNer
Jun 17, 2004
14,500
19,219
ajay ji


Page grabs of news articles in image format must be resized to fit a 900 pixel wide window, and fonts must be readable, before you upload the articles. Constant maintenance is required to keep the forum looking tidy and organized. Everyone must do his share. Otherwise I will remove the images and resize them according to my available time and my own schedule.

I would also request a short but complete English summary of each article written in Punjabi within a day or two. Thank you.
 

Ajay Singh

SPNer
Jul 3, 2010
35
46
Thank you jee for fixing the size. Will make sure it fits perfectly next time I upload. Will not be able to translate all the articles, will be busy with school. However below is the translation of the letter from Akal Takhat. Translation is done by world Sikh Council. All the articles pretty much say the same.

Secretariat, Siri Akal Takhat Sahib

Seal of Siri Akal Takhat Sahib
No. A: 3/11/3802
Date: March 9, 2011
S. Santokh Singh Badesha and the Board of Trustees of the Gurdwara of Rochester:

Vaheguru ji ka Khalsa
Vaheguru ji ki Fateh
It has come to our attention from reports on the management dispute of the Gurdwara Sahib at Rochester, and from studying the documents submitted by you on this issue to American Judge Kenneth Fisher of Monroe County (New York) that exploiting the American judges’ lack of complete knowledge about the Sikh faith, you have made highly misleading and false statements to them about the fundamental principles and rules of the Sikh faith. In these statements, you have mocked the holy Sikh Kakaars with the selfish motive of winning your lawsuit. Presenting the Guru’s gift - the holy Kirpan (Siri Sahib) - as a demon in the court, you have done the despicable misdeed of getting a ban enacted on it.
To fulfill these selfish aims of yours, you have gravely insulted the Guru Sahibaan’s seal, the holy Sikh Kakaars, by labeling them as ‘so-called’ Kakaars in your documents presented to the court. Continuing your false statements on the principle of the Sikh Kirpan and Khande-Baate-di-Pahul, despite your own cut Kes (hair), you have claimed yourself in the American court to be an Amritdhari Sikh, which is absolutely false and is nothing more than the despicable misdeed of mocking Khande-Baate’s code of conduct. According to the Sikh principles, code of conduct and tradition, a person who cuts his holy hair cannot be called a Sikh. Guru-Ghars belong to all, in which everybody has the freedom to come and pray. No devotee can be banned from coming to a Guru-Ghar. Amritdharis are particularly respected in the Guru-Ghar.
It is important to mention here that according to the Sikh traditions, the Sikh code of conduct and the definition of being a Sikh, any man or woman who desecrates hair by cutting them, has no right to be called an Amritdhari Sikh. A site or a religious place where there is any restriction of any kind on any of the Kakaars (Kirpan, Kanga, Kes, Kachh or Karra) gifted by Guru Sahib, such site or place absolutely does not retain the right to be called a Sikh Gurdwara. Thus, in the current unfortunate situation created by you at the Gurdwara Sahib at Rochester, while under the facade of a modification there is relief on bringing in a 4”-6” Kirpan, the ban on the complete freedom of Guru approved Kirpan is still in place unchanged. For these reasons, by the directive issued by the respected Jathedar Sahib, you are hereby directed to provide clarification on your these anti-Panth activities to the Secretariat, Siri Akal Takhat Sahib, before the next steps are taken.


Signature of Jaswinder Pal Singh
(Jaswinder Pal Singh)
Personal Assistant
Jathedar, Siri Akal Takhat Sahib
Siri Amritsar
 

spnadmin

1947-2014 (Archived)
SPNer
Jun 17, 2004
14,500
19,219
Ajay ji

Every little bit helps. What you have done so far helps. It keeps the pages looking sharp. And the members who want to know more are grateful that even an article a day can be summarized. This on, the letter from AT, is probably the most crucial to be able to follow.

We have been experimenting with the addition of Punjabi language content. That comes with a cost. The official language of the forum is English; therefore, translation is needed.

I appreciate your spirit of teamwork.

:)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

❤️ CLICK HERE TO JOIN SPN MOBILE PLATFORM

Top