, CHANDIGARH 4 ❘ punjab/ ❘ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 Man with many faces, a long shadow SELF-STYLED GODMAN -based Sacha Sauda’s enigmatic chief attracts a lot of awe, but also a certain contempt Hitender Rao and prowess. He himself sings ■ [email protected] bhajans (religious songs) dur- ing the satsang (discourse and INTERVIEW SIRSA (HARYANA): For an onlooker, prayer). he remains an enigma. A huge In fact, a new video of the following of admirers who dera chief donning the role of swear by his name, an array a western singer is about to be of philanthropic activities to released. We are keen to resolve his credit, a Z-plus security The music video, titled cover, flashy outfits, and also Insaan, features Gurmeet Ram a string of controversies sur- Rahim in a western outfit, wear- dera-Sikh row peacefully rounding him. The head of Dera ing fingerless gloves, tapping Sacha Sauda (DSS), 45-year-old to the tunes of a self-composed he November 24 clash A lot of are dera fol- They were of the view that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh song – ‘Thank you for that’. Dr between a group of lowers. However, there are since they live in a society, enjoys godly status among his Insaan says the composition also TSikhs and supporters some goons who, in the garb they needed representatives followers. carries “a message of goodness of the Dera Sacha Sauda in of religion, commit bad deeds who could help in getting their The self-styled godman comes and morality”. Sirsa has put a politico-reli- and disturb peace. work done. There is nothing from a Jat Sikh family of Gurusar gious rivalry in the limelight wrong with that; everyone Modia village in Rajasthan’s POWERPLAY, AND again. And this ongoing feud Such incidents often create has the right to vote. Casting Sriganganagar district. He was THE PRICE threatens to disrupt peace in opportunities for radical ballot is an individual’s pre- inducted into the sect at the Having excelled in large-scale Haryana and neighbouring elements to disturb peace. rogative. I fail to understand age of seven by his predecessor humanitarian work, the dera, Punjab. The genesis lay in Do you agree? why some people think that by Shah Satnam Singh Maharaj. probably in a rather ambitious the 2007 episode when the Yes, there are such people… I creating disturbance, they can The third of the dera’s chiefs, shift, decided to subtly dabble in dera chief allegedly hurt reli- would like to quote a couplet mould people’s views… Gurmeet Ram Rahim took over politics. It has set up a political gious sentiments by wearing to answer this: Na Hindu bura Politicians from various the reins when he was barely 23. affairs wing. attire akin to that worn by hai, na hi Sikh Isaai Musalman parties came to the dera He is married and has children, In the 2007 Punjab assembly the tenth Sikh guru. As both bura hai; burai pe utar aaye woh during the Punjab assembly though he is said to have sacri- polls, it supported the Congress. sides blame the other for the insan bura hai (Hindu, Sikh, polls. We asked them to give ficed his personal life for public The party may have lost over- violence and arson, HT posed Christian or Muslim, none is an undertaking that they will service, and thus not much is all, but the dera’s political some questions to the dera’s actually bad; bad is the man make efforts to curb drug known about it. affairs wing helped it do well in chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim who indulges in bad deeds). addiction, female foeticide; we He has probably never looked Punjab’s Malwa region, which Singh, during the evening sat- Those who are looking to asked them to give affidavits back since. was traditionally considered an sang at the dera headquarters disturb peace, they get an in this regard. Akali stronghold. in Sirsa. opportunity… We had said FAME AND GLOOM The dera’s emergence as earlier that we are ready to Do you feel a danger to your- The Sirsa-based cult has a power player, however, did What is the solution to the take an initiative and enter self in these circumstances? attained both fame and discredit ■ Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh honouring roller skaters from dera-run educational institutes. HT PHOTO not go down well with many ongoing feud between into a dialogue to settle issues. Hamara toh Satguru maula with Gurmeet Ram Rahim at the and invited the wrath of Sikh Sikhs and Dera Sacha Actually, we took several ini- hai (God is our master). I helm. While the socio-spiritual the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind official monitoring the recent ATHLETE, WHO LIKES Panthic organisations. Some Sauda followers? tiatives, but apparently no have never felt any danger organisation has earned emi- Singh at a public function in situation. Many in the state THE GOOD LIFE political observers relate the We want to resolve this in solution could come out. nor would, ever. nence for humanitarian work Salabatpura in Bathinda by administration also believe that He may be under fire in one 2007 controversy with the a peaceful manner. In fact, – blood donation, eye donation, donning attire resembling the the fresh round of hostilities sense, but Gurmeet Ram Rahim dera’s growing political clout we were ready to resolve it The feuds arose after the dera But it seems rehabilitation of prostitutes, guru’s. The incident set off wide- may continue for a while. The certainly lives in style. He drives and ambition. earlier too and do not have started dabbling in politics. that the dera relief operations during calami- spread violent clashes between police booked about 2,000 dera a Range Rover sports utility However, in the 2012 assem- any dispute with the Sikhs. Is it okay for a socio-religious followers are ties -- it has its share of contro- radical Sikhs and dera follow- followers following Saturday’s vehicle (SUV), wears flashy bly polls in Punjab, the dera sect to get directly or indi- becoming intoler- versies, including two murder ers. As the radicals demanded violence in Sirsa. clothes and headgear, delivers seemed to have lost much of rectly involved in politics? ant? The violence cases including that of journalist his head, the dera chief had “We may not like to spell out sermons from an ostentatiously its political credence. “Even the I have nothing to do with on November 24 is an Ram Chander Chattarpati, a a narrow escape in February the exact reasons but it seems decorated podium, and enjoys father-in-law of his (dera chief’s) politics. The sangat indicator. Would you like case of sexual exploitation of 2008 when his cavalcade was that whenever certain pending proximity to influential politi- son, a Congress candidate from (followers) wanted to send a message to women followers, and a case of attacked in Karnal. Later, a court cases against the dera cians. A Z-plus protectee, he Bathinda-urban, lost the polls to set up a politi- your followers? alleged castration of devotees. Khalistan Liberation Force head or the followers arrive also has a select band of pri- this time,” underlines a dera cal affairs wing. We have always propagated Dera supporters are quick (KLF) operative and six others at a critical stage, the ‘premis’ vate security guards forming watcher. love and peace. But I would to term the “infamy propagan- were arrested and sentenced to become edgy and start flexing an inner cordon to protect him. The dera spokesperson, like to ask you: if someone da” as part of “well-planned imprisonment in the case. their muscles,” says another During his religious discourses, however, insists that the sect enters your house and attacks conspiracies of various anti- government official. four elegantly dressed ceremo- has never issued any diktats to your family, would you turn a dera elements”. It must be men- RECENT VIOLENCE Dera spokesperson Dr Aditya nial guards stand close to the its followers. “In fact, it is the blind eye towards them? Our tioned, though, that Gumeet The outbreak of recent clash- Insaan denies the charge. podium. sangat (followers) that decides followers were meditating in Ram Rahim has been exoner- es between the dera’s followers “We never started the alter- “He is a tireless worker who on its own and chooses the best the Naam Charcha Ghar in ated in a case pertaining to the (called ‘premis’) and Sikhs has cation. But still we are being is an example for others,” says candidate, irrespective of party their hometown Sirsa. We murder of a former dera man- its origin in the 2007 contro- blamed. People on the other Dr Aditya Insan. or affiliation,” he claims. were not interfering in any- ager, Faqir Chand. versy. “Deep seeds of hostility side were issuing open threats An avid sportsperson, Politicians of various hues one’s affairs. But, are we pro- The dera chief was also at were sown in 2007 when the on November 24 but have not Gurmeet Ram Rahim is often and shades, however, continue hibited from using the streets the centre of a religious contro- dera chief made a public appear- even been booked,” says Insaan, seen playing cricket, football or to visit the dera to solicit the leading to our homes and our versy in 2007 when he purport- ance dressed as the tenth Sikh showing some video footage of throwing the javelin with what “blessings” of Gurmeet Ram ashram? edly tried to portray himself as guru,” says a senior Haryana the recent Sirsa incident. Insan calls amazing strength Rahim Singh. Officers posted with AWES EX-HAVILDAR Sukhbir denies his ‘interference’ GETS LIFE TERM not on defence duty: CAG FOR MURDER in depts held by BJP ministers CHANDIGARH: The comptroller of Law, Mohali. of responsibilities of the MS and auditor general, in its recent The salary and allowances Branch. UNA: A local fast-track court on Jasdeep Singh Malhotra sulting them, thus relegating matter pertaining to issuance “green” clearances. Expressing report submitted in Parliament paid to the officers posted with “This argument of the MS Thursday convicted and sen- ■ [email protected] them to mere spectators. of change in land use were not concern over the hike in prices on Thursday, termed the post- AWES between December 2005 Branch is untenable as posting tenced former army havildar The issue of not consulting being considered. of bricks and sand in the state ing of serving officers with and January 2012 worked out to of these officers to AWES was Major Singh for the murder of : Punjab deputy chief BJP ministers before posting The BJP is already worried due to shortage caused by the Army Welfare Education Rs 1.56 crore, which along with not for bona fide defence duties a woman hailing from Amritsar. minister Sukhbir Badal here on administrative secretaries of about the impact of new direct the ban on mining activities Society (AWES) as untenable leave salary/pension contribu- and charging their salaries to Devinder Kumar Sharma, Thursday dismissed reports their departments was also taxes and the hike in user charg- Sukhbir said the state gov- and not a defence duty. tion should have been recovered defence services estimates was additional district and sessions about his ‘interference’ in the raised before BJP’s state affairs es for several facilities in various ernment was moving the high It found that with effect from from AWES. in contravention of the defence judge-cum-presiding officer of functioning of departments held incharge Shanta Kumar, who departments on its urban base court for seeking relief on this December 2005, nine army offi- As per report, the principal ministry’s orders and was there- the fast-track court, sentenced by BJP ministers. assured to take up the issue with during the 2014 Lok Sabha elec- count. cers were posted by the military controller of defence accounts fore irregular. the convict to life imprisonment “The state BJP leadership chief minister Parkash Singh tions. Sources said the state BJP On the delay in six-laning of secretary’s (MS) branch of the (officers), Pune, in reply to CAG The irregular disbursement and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000, usually shares its concerns with Badal, the sources said. leadership also showed concern the 291-km national highway army to AWES-run professional observation stated in June 2011 of pay and allowances along According to assistant dis- me, but it has not expressed any presi- over its alliance partner SAD (Jalandhar-), he said the institutes like Army Institute of that the MS branch had clari- with the leave salary/ pension trict attorney Ashok Kumar such grievance. The SAD-BJP dent Sukhbir’s refusal to con- not giving due importance to state government would take Technology Pune, Army fied that posting of officers was contribution needs to be recov- Dhiman, Major Singh, a resident alliance is like a joint family. We sider BJP’s concerns over the BJP ministers. up the issue with the Centre to College of Medical Sciences, purely of administrative nature ered from the AWES,” says the of Barad village in Punjab’s Tarn pay due regard to BJP ministers recently introduced e-trip sys- Interestingly, all important get the task accomplished at New Delhi, and Army Institute and it was well within the realm report. HTC Taran district, came to Amb and they are not being ignored tem and 0.5% VAT enhancement announcements about the min- the earliest. subdivision in Una district with on any count,” Sukhbir told were also discussed. istries industries and local bod- Regarding the inordinate I, Sarala Devi W/o Krishan Jagir Kaur of Khalsa Colony, Hindustan Times. The BJP has been opposing ies — portfolios held by BJP delay in appointing new min- Jha, R/o Tohana, Amritsar, on October 16, 2010. As per BJP sources, during both policy decisions, citing ministers — have been made isters against three ministe- Fatehabad, have changed He murdered her at a private the party’s core committee an adverse impact on its vote by Sukhbir or the CM ever since rial berths which fell vacant htclassifieds name Sarala Jha. guest house in Amb over a meeting on Saturday, a major- bank — the business the formation of the alliance after the resignation of Akal financial dispute. Major ity of its ministers were of the community. government in March. ministers Bibi Jagir Kaur I Usha Rani W/o Narinder I Pardeep Kumar S/o Sh. Singh had confessed opinion that Sukhbir had virtu- Sources said Chunni Lal Meanwhile, Sukhbir said the Tota Singh and Gulzar Singh Kumar Ward 12, Kurali have PACKERS & MOVERS Balbir Singh, R/o 6353-B, to the crime. HTC ally hijacked their departments Bhagat, local bodies minister, Centre should amend environ- Ranike, Sukhbir said it was the Rajiv Vihar, Manimajra, changed my name to Asha COURT NOTICES Rani and all important decisions were pointed out during the meet- mental laws to give powers to chief minister’s prerogative to AGGARWAL Global Chandigarh has changed my being taken by him without con- ing that his views on the policy state governments regarding appoint new ministers. Packers Movers Chandig- minor daughter name from Liana Deshwal to Diya Desh- I Simrandeep Singh S/o arh- 9317211000, Patiala- wal born 24th September Mohan Singh VPO Dhamot 9646554555, Ludhiana- 2009 Kalan (Ludhiana) Changed 9216122334, Jallandhar- My Name Simrandeep Singh Punjabi academy to be set up in 9357354716, Amritsar- I Minny Pandey W/o Manish Gill. DEHRADUN: Unveiling a slew of a function here to mark Gurpurb in Garhwal region had been sent dominated, he added. 9217284708, Ambala- Kishore Mishra # 3235 9317211000. Sector 47-D Chandigarh I Karamjit Singh S/o development schemes for Sikhs, of Guru Nanak on Wednesday, to the Centre. Vacancies for Schemes will also be launched have changed my name from Gurmail Singh R/o Village Uttarakhand chief minister Bahuguna said the state govern- Punjabi teachers will also be for the development of Banjara KC International Packers Minny Pandey to Minny Phullanwal, Tehsil & Distt. Vijay Bahuguna has said that a ment believed in taking along all filled soon, he said. Sikh and Rai Sikh communities Movers, Household Goods, Mishra. Ludhiana Declare That My Punjabi academy would soon be sections together, adding that Of the four minority villages Bahuguna said.An amount of Car Transportation All . 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