Double face of Punjab govt exposed over permission to DJJS for congregation

CHANDIGARH: The double face of SAD-BJP government in Punjab has been exposed over giving permission to Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (DJJS) to hold its congregation in Ludhiana following revealations that state government had itself in November 2002 recommended to the center government to ban this organisation.

The questions are also being raised that present government led by Parkash Singh Badal had deliberately allowed the DJJS (also known as Nurmahalia sect)to hold the function for political mileage with an eye on the votes of DJJS followers.

Similar clash between Sikhs and Nirnakaris had taken place in Amritsar in 1982 and 11 members of Akhand Kirtani Jatha were killed. Punjab had faced a long spell of militancy after the Sikh-Nirankari clash.

Interestingly, finding the literature of DJJS objectionable, the state government had on November 29, 2002 recommeded to ban the sect under the Central legislation of the unlawful activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. A communication in this regard was sent to the center government, it is learnt.

The clash between Sikhs and Police at Ludhiana on December 5 2009 had claimed one life and several were injured in police firing on Sikhs when they went to stop the congregation. The Sikh bodies had demanded to ban the function but district administration reportedly under pressure from BJP granted permission for the conclave.

This is not the first time that Sikhs and followers of Nurmahalia sect have clashed in Punjab. Earlier in year 2002, the both sides clashed in Malout and Mahilpur in Hoshiarpur district.

At that time, a fact-finding committee formed by the state government comprising Sikh scholars has recommended a probe into the background of the controversial godman, Ashutosh. The one-paged report sent to the then Education Secretary, N.S. Rattan, for necessary action reads: “After scrutinising the literature and audio and video-cassettes of the Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, the committee has concluded that the contents are against Sikh tenets”.

The report says “by quoting from Guru Granth Sahib, Ashutosh has been projected as a living Guru”.It further says the tone and tenor of the literature is “blasphemous, hurting Sikh sentiments”.

On careful scrutiny of the video-cassette of the Malout function, the committee members have concluded that at the function, he (Ashutosh) was equated with Guru Granth Sahib! (Sikhs consider Guru Granth Sahib as living Guru).

The State intelligence had sent the reports to the Punjab government and to the senior intelligence officers at the Punjab Police headquarters about three weeks ago, saying that the then proposed Ludhiana programme of Ashutosh Maharaj should not be allowed in the industrial city as it could lead to trouble between Sikh radicals and the followers of the DJJS.

So much so the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) had prohibited the DJJS from holding satsang outside its dera at Nurmahal in view of apprehension of breach of peace in the state.The then Chairman of the commission SM Qureshi on August 27, 2002 passed this order following SAD(Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann made a repersentation to commission.

A Ludhiana based Sikh Gurmeet Singh has now filed an application to DGP Punjab under RTI Act raising several questions about reasons behind permitting Nurmahal dera to hold its function despite intelligence input for possible clash with Sikh organisations.

The applicant has raised the point that on December 3, 2009, Punjab police had a clash with migrant laborers at Dhandari village, who were causing huge losses to business houses. To control the migrant laborers police used only lathi charge and less lethal weapons, whereas when it came to Sikhs protesting against disrespect of their Guru and Gurbani, fatal weapons were used on them.

Punjab DGP has to answer the question that on which information the government recommendations to ban DJJS, NCM order and intelligence reports were ignored.

Ludhiana violence may be begining of communal backlash against migrants

CHANDIGARH: It is indeed worrying that migrant labourers who contributed significantly in development of Punjab, have induldged in violence following police inaction on complaint of robbey by a labourer at Dhandari Kalan in Ludhiana district of Punjab.

Ludhiana has strong presence of migrant labourers and it is also reason for hatered against particularly the Bihari labourers who has majority among migrants. The migrants from Bihar are often blamed for rising crime in Ludhiana and are considered a source of nuisance all over the state. In first sight it appears to be a gross negligence of police which failed to understand the gravity of situation. Being a citizen of India, Bihari migrants were within their right to lodge their complaint with the police. It is ironical that Punjab police has became immune to problems of common people. The Ludhiana incident is result of police callousness. It is shameful that Punjab DGP P.S.Gill is trying to shield the gullty policemen on the plea that police was busy in making arrangement for some function.

The radical forces in Punjab have been up in arms agains the Bihari migrant labourers. On ground, the situation is not different from Maharashtra or Assam where local have revolted against Bihari migrants and launched offensive to push them out of state. The situation by all means is volatile and it would be foolish on the part of police and state government to blind the eyes. Probably time has come to face the ground realities. The simmering anger against Bihari labourers in the Punjabi population may lead to violence in other cities of Punjab.

Punjab is a agriculture state and one should not forget that without the helping hand of migrant labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pardesh, it would have been imposible to achieve the green revolution. The Punjabi youth has lost its love for labour and has turned white collared. Punjab government is required to handle the situation with utmost responsibility. The track record of Punjab government particularly the SAD-BJP government is dismal in handling crisis situations. Not long back this government had allowed the followers of dera Sacha Sauda to indulge in arson and violence in Bathinda district and very recently in Jalandhar the followers of Guru Ravi Dass sect indulged in large scale violence.

In Ludhiana, the industrial town of Punjab, the concentration of migrants is very high and they have formed political clout at many assembly seats. The victory of Congress candidate Manish Tewari from Ludhiana Parliamentary seat is attributed to support of migrant labourers.

We condemn the violence by migrant labourers. They are welcome to work in Punjab but such a strong reaction on minor provocation is highly deplorable. They must love the place from where they earn livelihood. Punjab government shall take stern action against those responsible for the Ludhiana violence that may be police or any trouble maker for that matter. The chain reaction, if triggered, would put the Punjab on fire once again for a wrong reason.