CHANDIGARH, MARCH 31: After marginalising his rivals in the religio-political domain, Punjab chief minister and Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal, today launched a major initiative to buy peace on the eve of the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations.The initiative assumes significance with former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra and ``suspended'' Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh, out in the field mobilising people for parallel celebrations. Bhai Ranjit Singh had favoured organising the Khalsa tercentenary under the aegis of Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs.The initiative is to end the era of ``needless confrontation, bitterness and hatred and to usher in an age of trust, devotion and goodwill''. Badal made an impassioned appeal to the entire Sikh community, Panthic and other organisations and leaders to join the Khalsa tercentenary functions under the patronage of the five takhts. He declared that he himself would take part in these celebrations in his capacity as a humble and devout Sikh while assuring that all the Panthic leaders would be accorded equally high respect at the functions.Interestingly, the Hukamnama issued from Akal Takht on December 31 had also called upon the Akali leaders to maintain status quo till April 15 in view of the tercentenary celebrations. Bhai Ranjit Singh was later placed under unprecedented suspension by the Badal loyalists in the executive of the SGPC. Later Tohra was also shown the door, deepening the religio-political crisis.Referring to the political differences with his rivals, Badal tried to hammer the point that he had always been a votary of resolving the differences in true Panthic and democratic traditions. ``Never even once in my life have I deviated from the Panthic and democratic path and tried to impose my individual views on anyone. The same holds good even today'', he said.The Chief Minister said he had the highest regard for all the Panthic leaders regardless of their present stance or attitudes. ``To bring the entire Panth on a single platform is at once our cherished and profound desire as well as sacred religious duty. To fulfill this pious desire and discharge this responsibility, I am willing to go barefoot and with folded hands to the doorsteps of any person or leader in order to persuade him to join the united effort of the community in making the tercentenary a memorable occasion'', he said.At the same time, in a veiled attack on Tohra and Bhai Ranjit Singh, the Chief Minister said he was deeply anguished over the attitude of some Sikh leaders who respect the sacred institutions only so long as they happen to head the institution. He maintained the institutions are always bigger than the individuals as these are the products of long and unparalleled sacrifices made by the community. ``It is wrong to equate mere mortals with the immortal and sacred institutions'', he asserted.Badal said holding separate and mutually opposed functions amounted to causing painful divisions in the community and thereby belittle the glory of the Panth. ``The whole mankind and the entire history of the human race is watching us. It would be a pity and a disgrace if we cannot display unity'', he said.He pointed out the tercentenary was being organised under the direct patronage of the five takhts which belong to the entire community. He said it would be ridiculous and futile for anyone to try and take political mileage from an event of such religious magnitude.
