Sukhbir gets baptised at low-key ceremony
Megha Mann
Tribune News Service

Anandpur Sahib, September 3
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal got baptised with four other devotees at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Gurdwara today morning.

Yielding to political compulsions, Sukhbir got baptised at a low-key ceremony. Sukhbir reached the gurdwara with SAD leaders Babbi Badal and SAD youth wing president Kirandeep Kang at 7 am. Local leaders joined them later.

Takht Jathedar Tarlochan Singh baptised Sukhbir, three members of a family from Jammu and Hardev Singh, a lawyer. Devotees are baptised every Sunday and Wednesday at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. Sukhbir left the gurdwara at 9.30 am after partaking of langar.

Radical Sikhs, the Congress and even people within the party had been targeting Sukhbir ever since he took over as SAD president on January 31 this year. Earlier, Sukhbir, MP from Faridkot, was working president of the SAD. He was appointed to the post after the SAD-BJP came to power in Punjab in March last year.

Till now Sukhbir had been first non-baptised SAD president. As per party’s rules and regulations, it is mandatory for office-bearers of the SAD to be “amritdhari” (baptised).

In July, after Ropar MP Sukhdev Singh Libra defied party whip over N-deal in Parliament, Sukhbir had shown him the door from the party. Libra later retorted saying a non-baptised party president had no right to take such decision.

After being elected president, Sukhbir had announced that the SAD was not a party of Sikhs, but an organisation of the entire Punjabi community all over world. SGPC members had said after electing a non-baptised president, the SAD should stop interfering in religious affairs.

Meanwhile, SAD (A) president Simranjeet Singh Mann said now that Sukhbir had been baptised, he should abide by the tenets of baptism.

SAD chief looks for bearings in party
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 3
One who a few months back refused to answer why he had not got baptised and was touted a modern face of the party in a globalised world, SAD president and newly baptised Sikh Sukhbir Singh Badal has gone back in time to find bearings in the party.

By choosing the conservative line he wants to silence whispers of opposition in the party as well as those of hardliners piqued with him for not partaking of “amrit”. The move, according to Akali sources, brings him closer to his goal of chief ministership of the state.

Though party secretary Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said there was no directive from the party in this regard, Akali sources said Sukhbir was under pressure from Sikh leaders outside Punjab and Sikhs abroad in this regard. Cheema said there was no mandatory condition for the SAD chief to be a baptised Sikh, but the fact that all Sikh scholars felt otherwise and Sukhbir was the the first non-baptised Sikh to hold the post also went against him.

The move is also being seen in political terms and comes one day after Sukhbir managed one of the biggest rallies in the state near Talwandi Sabo yesterday. Party sources said after proving himself a good manager, Sukhbir by becoming a baptised Sikh would also appeal to Sikh psyche and the jathedar at the grass root level who was demoralised at the changing style of politics in the party.

The move also debunks the statement that “Sukhbir represents the modern face of the party and has taken over the reins at a time when the world is changing under globalisation and priorities are shifting”.

Sukhbir is also set to succeed where his cousin and finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal failed. Manpreet had become a baptised Sikh before the Gidderbaha election during the chief ministership of late Beant Singh, but had become “patit” a few months afterwards when he trimmed beard.

The party has made his ‘baptism’ a great event with workers coming to Chandigarh today to congratulate him.

Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was quick to give his views on the baptism of Sukhbir . Amarinder said according to Sikh ‘maryada’, Sukhbir did not qualify as baptised Sikh till his wife also got herself baptised. Indicating the move was a stunt, he said, “What about all his ‘nashas’?” He also advised the SAD chief to get de-addicted before trying to live the life of a baptised Sikh.

It's sad that he wants to take Amrit for his kursi. he should be taking Amrit for the Kushiyaa of Guru Jee. He's an Amritdhari for all the wrong reasons.

It's unfortunate that the Badals have turned a once great Sikh party like Akali Dal into a secular party. I have a feeling that the founding fathers of Akali Dal would throw up in dusgust if they saw what the Akali Dal had turned out to be.

Gurfateh

It is hoped that Kaka Badal will not go to Asutoswa Ji and bring his whole family under the Guruship of Sabad Guru Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.Akal Bless.

Waheguru ji ka khalsa
Waheguru ji ki fateh

Khalsa jio,

Quote "Amarinder said according to Sikh ‘maryada’, Sukhbir did not qualify as baptised Sikh till his wife also got herself baptised."

This shows that even high ranking politicians know very well about what Rehat Maryada is. So which means when one jatha for example AKHAND KIRTANI JATHA implement this Rehat strictly then why some others criticize jatha for this. About three four years ago one of our bibi jee shared with us this story that she went to a hospital in U.S. where a Amritdhari but beard tied Sikh approached to him who was about twice of her age and after formal talk he mentioned you must be from Akhand Kirtani Jatha, she said well I was initiated to Khalsa Panth thru Jatha that does not mean I am a Sikh of jatha instead I believe I am from Khalsa panth.

After some short talk he started to complain about jatha that how strict they are they do not let a married male to get Amrit unless his wife is with him or stay out of husband/wife relationship. He further mentioned that about few years back many of Bus drivers of Punjab Roadways or Pepsu Roadways decided to per take in the Amrit Sanchaar and went to Jatha Smagam. They were in good numbers but during the Peshi when Panj Singhs asked to bring your wives too then many of them chose not to take Amrit there and they went to some where else where the got the Amrit and the party who gave the Amrit was happy because of numbers, see how Akhand Kiratani Jatha have unneccessorry strictness over this. After listening this bibi ji replied that I can not comment on Panj's decision but what I can tell you is this that you can find lohay de Dher (piles of iron) any where on this earth even further more you can find Pital very easily but to find Sona (Gold) and Heeray (Diamond) are not easy. Jatha believes firmly in Guru Sahib's Rehat and so does to produce Sona and Heeray of Khalsa Panth to maintain the quality in Rehit that is what Guru Gobind Singh jee like the most not the quantity or a Sikh. If those men did not obey the Hukam of Panj Piyare then how come you will be sure that Guru jee will be happy on them and then how can you expect the kirpa (grace) of Guru Sahib or Kala of WAHEGURU. She said after listening this he loosen little bit on his stance and since then when ever he meet he always pays respect to her which she believes it is not respect of her own but it belongs to respect of Guru Sahib's Amrit and his given kakkar which also includes DASTAAR.

So in wake of above quote and short incident it is very clear that Rehat Maryada is loosen a lot now even on Takhat Sahib's, which clearly shows its bad effect on condition of Panth today.

Guru Mehar Karay

Waheguru ji ka khalsa
Waheguru ji ki fateh

Agreed one hundred percent with Khalsaspirit jee. Quality is what matters. If quantity is to be increased by compromising on quality, such quantity is not required.

A remark from Captain Sahib that I found to be very funny is as follows:

Quote:

Indicating the move was a stunt, he said, “What about all his ‘nashas’?” He also advised the SAD chief to get de-addicted before trying to live the life of a baptised Sikh.

Captain advised Sukhbir Singh to first get de-addicted and then go for amrit.

While this comment was funny but it has a poignant after taste as well. It's sad that our leaders think of amrit chhakna as a joke. Cousin of Sukhbir Singh too took amrit some time ago but soon became a patit by trimming his beard. This is the height of it. Hopefully, Sukhbir Singh will at least keep minimum rehit and avoid 4 bajjar kurehits.

I don't know what this khel of Vaheguru is. Why can't we have a leader who is a pakka tyaar bar tyaar Sikh. Why are lions being led by donkeys.

Kulbir Singh



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/04/2008 08:42AM by admin.

Of all the Akalis I think that only Torha kept Rehet as per the SGPC Maryada. Until his last days he was strick in his Amritvela. The rest of the Akalis are just frauds. They are just Amritdharis for their Kursi. The SGPC rehet is the easiest and if they can't even keep that properly, then that's just sad.

Gurfateh

Das wants to ask a question, ie
Is Amrinder or his family member baptised?

Das onces read a praises of one "sant" from the family of Amrinder and it was told that this sant is unlike other bad sants and from spokesman newspaper das got this info.