How Akal Takht failed Sikhs to save Gurmeet Ram Rahim

The decision to exonerate Haryana-based religious sect Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim by Akal Takht - the highest Sikh temporal authority - in a blasphemy case has not only sparked protests in many parts of Punjab but also comes as a major embarrassment to both the Akal Takht and Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

This is the first time that Sikhs are protesting against the Akal Takht's decision. Sikh organisations are also debating the issue of political interference into the working of the supreme Sikh body.

Various Sikh organisations, including Dal Khalsa, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Panthak Committee, International United Gurmat Granthi Sabha and Panch Pardhani, have criticised the move. Among the protesters are the families of a Sangrur resident, Karmjit Singh, and Dabwali resident, Harminder Singh, who died during the protests in 2007 against the Dera chief, who had allegedly dressed as Guru Gobind Singh.

Dal Khalsa, an Amritsar-based Sikh organisaton, has termed the decision "shocking", "hasty" and "surreptitious". It said that granting pardon to Gurmit Ram Rahim was in violation of norms, tradition and status of the Akal Takht. In fact, Dal Khalsa and Panch Pardhani have threatened to launch a protest in response to the "gross wrongdoings" of the five heads of various seats (Takhts), and continue the agitation till the decision is reversed.

"The entire Sikh community is shell-shocked. It's ironic that the norms, traditions and sovereignty of Akal Takht have been undermined, compromised and destroyed by those who are mandated to safeguard it," said Kanwar Pal Singh, spokesperson of Dal Khalsa.

Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, a Sikh leader, said, "Giani Gurbachan Singh (the Jathedar of Akal Takht) has shaken the conscience of devout Sikhs. Hence, we would be converging at Akal Takht to take a pledge to carry on with the mission to liberate Sikh institutions from wrong hands that have ruined the authority of Akal Takht Sahib and degraded the Sikh religious authority."

The Sikh leaders have said that one reason for the degradation of Sikh institutions is the absence of proper norms for the appointment of the heads of the five powers (Takhts) and issuing of orders under the seal and stamp of the Akal Takht. The Sikh body, in a meeting held in Amritsar on September 24, said it is satisfied with the explanation given by the Dera chief and has pardoned him, though it warned him against repeating the incident in future. "Akal Takht had received a written apology from the chief of the Sirsa-headquartered sect in which Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has stated that he has deep respect and regard for Guru Gobind Singh as well as the Sikh religion and Sikh community. We are satisfied with his apology and have warned him not to repeat such instances in future," said Gyani Gurbachan Singh.

While state Congress president, Pratap Singh Bajwa, refused to comment on the issue, senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia said forgiveness is part of Indian culture and there is no political motive behind exonerating the Dera chief eight years after the case was registered. "Akal Takht is independent to take decision and our party has nothing to do with it," Kalia emphasised.

While the BJP and the Akali Dal are eyeing the Baba's "secret" votebank, radical Sikhs and the Congress have criticised the move to woo the Dera chief's supporters for the 2017 Assembly elections. Fearing an almost decade-long anti-incumbency in Punjab, the BJP and the Akali Dal are leaving no stone unturned to grab power in the state. The controversial Baba, who is facing serious charges like rape, murder, attempt to murder and castration, had played an important role in Haryana by announcing his support to the BJP.

In February this year, while hearing a petition seeking cancellation of the 2014 Bhatinda court order in which the Dera chief was acquitted of the charges of blasphemy, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued notices to him and the Punjab government. The court, while issuing a notice to the Dera chief, had asked why the 2014 order should not be cancelled.