Full text of the letter:

Respected S. Parkash Singh Badal,

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa! Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

I write to you on a very touchy, sensitive but disturbing development that relates to you in person. The Jathedar of the Akal Takht during the inauguration of Virast-e-Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib made the announcement to bestow the title of ‘Panth Rattan Faqr-e-Qaum’ on you and the ceremony for the purpose has been planned for Dec 5 at the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs.

The arbitrary decision of Jathedar Gaini Gurbachan Singh has plunged the community into crisis, which might not be of your making. But then it is an outcome of the sycophancy culture prevailing in our society especially in the institutions run by incapable and incompetent personalities. You yourself are responsible for promoting this unhealthy trend.

Here I would like to argue as to how the decision of the Jathedar is not influenced by merit and who should be considered for this honour.

First of all, what is the Panth: It's an embodiment of the Sikh collective consciousness (in the light of Sikh principles and ideology and not numerical strength). It's living spirit of truth, selfless service and sacrifice. Secondly, as per Sikh principles, the one whose contribution towards the Panth is selfless, remarkable and unparalleled and whose dedication is unflinching deserves the title of Panth Rattan.

On the other hand, it has never been your aim to stand for the Panth or if need be make the supreme sacrifice for the Panthic cause. In fact, your motto has never been ‘Panth first’. Your first and last priority has always been self, to remain in power and enjoy pelf and privileges at all cost or at any cost. Your opportunistic and compromised politics has caused maximum damage to Panthic institutions. In nutshell, you are neither dutiful nor faithful to the Panth.

You could be anyone but not Panthic, that's for sure and this impression is widespread even outside Panthic circles. It's this non-Panthic character of yours that makes you 'most favoured' (Sikh) politician’ in the eyes of country's political establishment.

You take credit of being a tall leader of Punjab with secular credentials. We accept it without any hesitation. You are a successful politician, that’s something even your bitter critics can’t deny. We acknowledge your participation in various agitations and years spent behind bars during the struggle for rights of Punjab. We are also aware that you earned maximum political capital out of the years spent behind bars.

In the history of the Akal Takht, as we are aware, Sirdar Kapur Singh was awarded with the title of ‘National Professor of Sikhism’ during his life time. Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Sant Singh Maskin and Jasbir Singh Khannewale were conferred this honour of Panth Rattan posthumously. And this decision of Akal Takht to bestow the title posthumously is based on certain principle: to err is human. As Bhagat Kabir ji says in Guru Granth Sahib on page 1366: Your boat is still out at sea; who knows what will happen….

The Sikhs have expressed their displeasure and disapproval in the wake of the declaration by Gaini Gurbachan Singh. All pleas to Jathedar to listen to the voices of reasoning, logic and sanity have fallen on deaf ears.

Realizing that Jathedar can’t be of any help to end the crisis, the Dal Khalsa has decided to take up the matter with you.

As you happen to be the leader of the party that nominates the president of the SGPC and appoints Jathedar Akal Takht, you are in a position to bring the community out of crisis by voluntarily 'refusing to accept the title of Panth Rattan' and asking the Jathedar to put off the Dec 5 meet. Kindly see the reasoning behind the Panthic outcry and act accordingly. I am sure this will enhance your stature.

This letter may hurt your ego, but if you see community’s pain and emotions wrapped in it, I am sure, you will take it in the right perspective. I hope that you will show magnanimity by humbly turning down the proposal made by the Jathedar of Akal Takht.

Yours truly,

Kanwar Pal Singh
Secretary for Political Affairs
Dal Khalsa

 

 

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