Sunday March 15^th, 2009
Continuing its tradition of honouring Sikh historical personalities, the organization held a convention at village Hariana, near Hoshiarpur on March 15 and paid rich tributes to Sikh warrior Baba Baghel Singh, who is credited with the unfurling of the Nishan Sahib atop the historic Red Fort in 1783. It was on this day 226 years ago that Baba Baghel Singh unfurled the Nishan Sahib at the Red Fort in Delhi and established the rule of the Sikhs there.

Apart from being a brave warrior, Bhai Baghel Singh was a strategist and statesman who succeeding in forcing the then Delhi rulers into submission in the battle at Ghanaur, near Patiala in 1778, states one of the resolutions adopted during the conference.

Party president Harcharnjit Singh Dhami told the gathering that there was a lot to learn from the life and achievements of Bhai Baghel Singh. He told the audience that the interests of Sikhs and Punjab was the sole concern of Bhai Baghel Singh, while today the present Sikh leadership was blissfully unaware of the deeds and achievements of our past heroes.

Speaking on the on-going controversy about the proposed formation of separate management committee for gurdwaras in Haryana, Sardar Dhami said the sole right whether to remain with SGPC or to have their own separate body rests on Sikhs of Haryana. “The Sikhs of Haryana could be given the right to express their choice”.

However, he admitted that Sikhs, who have been at helm of Gurdwara affair, have erred in allowing the problem to linger. He condemned the role of Akali Dal for failing to win the trust & confidence of Haryana Sikhs and equally the Congress for exploiting the situation to its benefit. The radical group leader urged the jathedar Gaini Gubachan Singh to be cautious and does not act in a biased manner.

Mr Dhami said it’s ironic that Badal family has established a monopoly on all important Sikh institutions. Coining a new terminology to take a dig at CM and deputy CM, he alleged that Badalization of Sikh polity has led to denigration of Sikh institutions. “The father and son, who are devoid of ideology are controlling the institutions of historical importance”, he rued. In order to save institutions from further decline and damage, he suggested that the SGPC elections should not be held on party tickets and symbols. Rather candidates having religious bent of mind should be given the chance to govern and mange the shrines unanimously. Let the sangat of the particular constituency to ‘elect’ the candidate on merit and not because of his or her political affiliation.

Ranbir Singh president of the newly formed ‘Sikh Youth of Punjab’ said the present political leadership in Punjab did not offer any role models and therefore it was the need of the hour to honour Sikh generals of yesteryear. In pursuit to save Sikh youth from the scourge of drug abuse, he said the SYP would undertake a march in Amritsar in April to spread awareness against the increased use of drugs amongst youth.

Party general secretary Dr Manjinder Singh criticized the Indian judicial system for failing to deliver justice to Sikhs. He said justice has been denied to Sikh Nationalist leader Ranjit Singh Kuki, who has served 17 years behind bars ( 13 yrs in US and 4 yrs in Indian jails). He made an appeal to the affected sections to join hands in their battle for all round justice for the people of Punjab. Gurdeep Singh Kalkat, Sukhdev Singh district president, SAD (1920) activist Hardev Singh and SAD(A) activist Gurdeep singh also spoke on the occasion.