Flays Vedanti on "Khalistan"

[Harbhajan]

source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080501/punjab1.htm#3

Flays Vedanti on ‘Khalistan’

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has condemned the recent statement made by Joginder Singh Vedanti, jathedar of Akal Takht, on “separate homeland for Sikhsâ€.

He added that Vedanti should have realised that he was heading an important institution and should have not made such remarks.

Badal was reacting to Vedanti’s remarks in New York that “he was in favour of a separate Sikh homelandâ€.

Speaking on the issue of tainted police officers, Badal said the case was still in the jurisdiction of the courts and added that since the matter was sub judice in nature, he was not in a position to comment.

Badal announced a committee, comprising veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar, editor-in-chief of Ajit Barjinder Singh Hamdard, MP Tarlochan Singh, and V-C of Punjabi University Jaspal Singh, to go through the details of the proposed ordinance of making Punjabi compulsory in schools.

Backgrounder:

Vedanti’s view on ‘Khalistan’ puts SAD in fix

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 29

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today found itself in a sticky situation following an open support for creating “independent Sikh homeland†by Joginder Singh Vedanti, jathedar, Akal Takht, during his current visit to New York.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal had to face embarrassment when mediapersons sought his reaction on the announcement of Vedanti, who had stated that “the community has the right to separate Sikh stateâ€.

This announcement was made by him on the occasion of Sikh Parade where Vedanti was the chief guest.

His statement also coincided with the 22nd anniversary of the “Khalistan declaration†made by the then five-member Panthic committee from Akal Takht on April 29, 1986.

The controversy happened at a time when SAD has been making all-out efforts to woo Hindu voters for the forthcoming Amritsar byelection.

The statement, however, has emboldened the hardliners such as the Dal Khalsa.

Its general secretary Kanwarpal Singh said after a long time, the jathedar has “articulated the collective aspiration†of Sikhs

[chatanga1]

well done vedanti!!

[Mithr]

Now that he's made this statement, I wonder how long Vedanti will last as the Jathadar. Akalis are the real controlers and I can imagine their main allies(masters) the BJP will not approve of this statement by Vedanti.

[unbreakable]

..

[Harbhajan]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080502/punjab1.htm#2

SGPC chief too flays Vedanti

Varinder Walia

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 1

After Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, flaying Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, for advocating creation of “Khalistanâ€, SGPC president Avtar Singh, who is in New York, said Vedanti should “think before he speaksâ€.

He said the SGPC always endorsed policies of the SAD which was against the demand of a separate Sikh homeland. He said the SGPC would seek report from Vedanti as he had already backed out from his statement.

Avtar Singh said he always held Vedanti in high esteem keeping in view the great post he held, but he should give statements which were in the larger interest of the Sikh community.

However, Dr Amarjit Singh of the Khalistan Affairs Centre (KAC), Washington DC, who had invited Vedanti to attend the “Sikh Parade†on Baisakhi, said it was unfortunate the jathedar was trying to back out from his statement on Sikh homeland.

From the US, Dr Amarjit Singh told The Tribune he had recorded the entire speech of Vedanti which would be made public. He said initially, representatives of various gurdwaras in the US were against inviting Vedanti due to his tendency of changing stand.

He said the jathedar had “boldly endorsed the right of self-determination of Sikhs for a water/food-rich democratic buffer state of Khalistan in South Asiaâ€.

He added the call of Vedanti was endorsed by over 30,000 Sikhs gathered at Madison Avenue Park, New York.

Joining the issue, the Dal Khalsa described the formation of Sikh state as inalienable right of the community. The party slammed Badal for ridiculing the concept.