Sikh code violated during Khalsa opening, says Tohra

Interestingly, though Badal had earlier said the celebrations were being organised under the aegis of the five takhts, the jathedars of these seats, including Prof Manjit Singh of Takht Keshgarh Sahib where Guru Gobind Singh established the order of the Khalsa 300 years ago, were conspicuous by their absence. Prof Manjit Singh was not present at TakhtKeshgarh Sahib also when the Prime Minister and other leaders went there to pay their obeisance.

Moreover, the inauguration ceremony was without Guru Granth Sahib.

Reacting strongly to the absence of Guru Granth Sahib, Tohra, who has been marginalised by the Badal camp, said Badal had violated the maryada as the inauguration should have been done by the panj piaras (the five beloved ones) in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib after performing ardas (prayer). He said the function organised by the State Government was not in accordance with the established Panthic traditions.

The official concluding function would be organised on April 14 with a message of world peace and international brotherhood. The panj piaras would also give a separate message to the Sikh community after the beating of 300 nagaras (war drums) simultaneously. According to Prof Manjit Singh, the message would be read out by Bhai Puran Singh, acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat symbolisingSikh doctrine.

Talking to The Indian Express, Tohra said before differences cropped up, he had made it clear to the Chief Minister that the Khalsa celebrations would be in accordance with the Khalsa doctrine. He objected to the Khalsa march having been named as fateh (victory) march saying one should go to the guru with all humility. "To whom have they conquered," he asked adding the Congress had done well by describing march being organised by the party as `Sarbansdani March’.

The SGPC chief did not take it kindly to the presence of the Congress leaders during inauguration and said it had exposed Badal who had justified use of Article 356 in Bihar on the plea that the opposition by the Akali Dal would strengthen the Congress. "It shows the difference between words and deeds of Badal," he said.

At the same time, he said his opposition was mainly to the invitation to political leaders during the inaugural function as they should have been invited on any other day. He said his basiccontention was about observing maryada on the opening day.

He said in case he had been present at the function along with Vajpayee, he would have made only one demand. "I would have made it clear that Sikhism is not a sub-religion and hammered the point of separate identity of the Sikhs," he said.

He would not like the celebrations being organised by him and suspended Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh as parallel celebrations and said theirs was the real programme in accordance with the Khalsa philosophy.