ROOPNAGAR, Dec 6: The Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh today stated that the Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib was not invited to address the congregation on the occasion of Khalsa March as he (Prof Manjit Singh) had "not yet submitted the accounts of World Sikh Council". He stated this on the occasion of a press briefing before leaving for Fatehgarh Sahib early this morning.He reiterated his reservations about the Gurmat Sagar Trust, which he termed as a family affair of Prof Manjit Singh. Though he did not agree that his trust was a challenge to the one headed by Prof Manjit Singh, he said, "Ours is a purely voluntary body which will raise money through donations, while Gurmat Sagar Trust is solely owned by Prof Manjit Singh."Much significance is however being attached to the Sarbat da Bhala trust formed by the Akal Takht chief Bhai Ranjit Singh to help widows and the orphans. Sarbat Da Bhala trust, which was formed in September last is said to have raised over Rs 2 lakh by donations through schools. With the Akal Takht in Amritsar as its head office, the trust aims at the welfare of poor by raising at least Rs 101 each from a donor.Earlier, the Akal Takht chief had questioned the credibility of Gurmat Sagar Trust and had accused its head, Prof Manjit Singh of indulging in real estate business. Apart from the Akal Takht chief, the trust will be managed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president and the chairman of the World Sikh Council.On being asked whether the trust has been formed to help the families of the slain militants, he said, "The trust is for the orphans, whose parents have either died of alcoholism or in police encounters".Apart from the trust, the Khalsa March he had organised with the help of Sant Samaj and the SGPC is being construed as a challenge to the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex, held at Anandpur Sahib on November 22.Though both the functions were part of the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations, their message apparently carry different meanings. If the choice of the gurdwaras, where the march had halted on way to Fatehgarh Sahib is any indication, Bhai Ranjit Singh and the Sant Samaj had tried to remind the people of sufferings of the Khalsa.This is in sharp contrast to the message that Anandpur Sahib Foundation and the Punjab Government were trying to signal. While the foundation is trying to broadbase the moderate profile of the Khalsa Panth that was formed from amongst various castes, Ranjit Singh's march aimed at highlighting the persecution of the Sikhs.The march had followed a midnight "nagar kirtan" on December 4. The next morning it left for Chamkaur Sahib. On its way to Chamkaur Sahib, the procession halted at Gurdwara Parvar Vichora and Batha Sahib. Finally the procession terminated at Jyoti Sarup in Fatehgarh Sahib on December 6The midnight function reminded the departure of Guru Gobind Singh, who was forced to leave Anandpur Fort at Anandpur Sahib by the Mughals. Likewise, Gurdwara Parvar Vachora is the reminder of Guru Gobind Singh's separation from his mother and two younger two sons - Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, who were bricked alive by the Governor of Sirhind (Fatehgarh Sahib).In the Battle of Chamkaur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh lost his elder sons - Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh. Without naming the organisers, the permanent special invitee at Anandpur Sahib Foundation Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia said, "Directly or indirectly abetting fundamentalism by restricting the event to the past Khalsa highlights will deviate the celebrations from its liberal profile".
