http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Deciphering-dera-politics/articleshow/10849962.cms
Deciphering dera politics
TNN | Nov 24, 2011, 04.36AM IST
It was started in Nurmahal by Baba Ashutosh Ji Maharaj in 1984 when
Punjab was going through a disturbed phase. In 90s, there were murmurs
of his discourses in some schools of Sikhs, especially about the
selective use of Gurbani and its interpretation. It reached a flash
point when dera preacher Swami Shraddhanand made acrimonious comments
about some Sikh institutions.
After this incident, sansthan's programmes turned more towards Hindu
idiom, practices and institutions. During the controversy between this
dera and Sikhs, some Sikh leaders, including CM Parkash Singh Badal's
wife late Surinder Kaur Badal, had come under attack, for paying
obeisance to the sansthan head. After the situation turned volatile
and clashes occurred at a few places, Captain Amarinder Singh's
government banned its public functions for some time.
After that, it roped in leaders from all political parties and
increased its clout in official machinery. Just after Badal's
government came to power in 2007, there was violence between the
sansthan and Sikh organizations at Phagwara. BJP MLA Harish Bedi had
organized a programme at Ludhiana on December 5, 2009, which invited
flak from various Sikh groups. A Sikh was killed in police firing
during the protests. Following this, all the 19 BJP MLAs met Badal in
support of the sansthan. SAD MLA Mohan Lal, who used to tie a turban
and support a flowing beard, untied his hair after he took an oath as
member of the state assembly. It was widely believed that he did it to
fulfil his commitment with the dera. However dera spokesperson Swami
Arvindanand denies it.
Namdharis
This sect of Sikhs had been politically active before 1947 and
conducted themselves as a political entity against the British. Its
founder Baba Ram Singh was a pioneer of the concept of non-cooperation
movement at a time when Mahatma Gandhi was nowhere in the scene. He
evolved an independent system of services, including the postal.
Orthodox Sikhs don't consider Namdharis as their part because they
believe in a living Guru and have some key differences in their Rehat
Maryada.
These differences escalated during the Singh Sabha movement. These
differences kept this sect at a distance from the Shiromani Akali Dal
for several years and Namdharis remained aligned to the Congress. This
started well before independence due to their active participation in
the independence movement. It is a closely knit sect which follows
instructions of its head, Satguru Jagjit Singh, in toto. However, of
late, Parkash Singh Badal has managed to bridge some gap through
several steps, including establishing Satguru Ram Singh chair in Guru
Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, during his previous regime and
releasing liberal funds in this tenure when elections are near.
Congress has considered the sect as its pocket but with Badals making
a foray in their bastion, it has gone a bit careful. Most of its
members are from Ramgarhia community whose role in the caste hierarchy
was to do technical jobs. Gradually, they grew with the industrial
revolution unfolding in India. Due to its history of activism on
political front and direct confrontation with the British, the
community is considered politically well aware and active though now
they don't conduct themselves as a political entity.
Radha Soami Satsang, Beas
Radha Soami Satsang, Beas, is undisputedly the largest dera of Punjab.
Its has followers from all the communities, including Hindus and
Sikhs. A considerable chunk of its following is from the Dalit
community, especially Adi-dharmis. Top leaders of all political
parties, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, had been visitors
here.
With presence across the country, the dera had been maintaining
cordial relations with all the parties, especially Congress, but has
never identified with any party. It had ideological issues with SAD,
as the latter had been a strong follower of Sikh Rehat Maryada, which
emphasizes devotion to Guru Granth Sahib only and not to any living
Guru. But of late, SAD leadership, especially Parkash Singh Badal, has
developed good relations with it. Former SAD MLA and transport
minister from Kapurthala, Raghbir Singh, is a relative of dera head
Baba Gurinder Singh, a reason why he got the party ticket.
It is common knowledge in Akali circles that despite repeated defeats
after 2002, Badal had made it clear that the ticket could not be
denied to Raghbir, who has now joined the PPP. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh
Badal's brother-in-law Bikram Majithia is married to Ganeive Grewal,
who is a relative of dera head Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon. Visit of
dera head to Dera Baba Jaure in village Raipur Rasoolpur, which is in
conflict with Dera Ballan, also triggered political calculations. As
Dera Baba Jaure head Nirmal Singh is close to SAD, it was said it was
first time in the history that Dera Beas head held a satsang at any
other dera. Leaders from different political parties are its
followers.
Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa
Headquartered in Haryana, it is known more for its Punjab politics. It
is the only dera that issued open directions to its followers to vote
for Congress in the 2007 election that made SAD lose in Malwa, its
traditional stronghold. The dera holds considerable following in Malwa
region, especially in areas close to Haryana. It has a political wing,
which takes feedback from followers and gives directions for voting.
Its openly taking sides led to a lot of bad blood with the Akali Dal
and dera head Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh courted several controversies and
faced criminal cases. According to informed political circles, in the
last parliament election of 2009, dera followers had voted for SAD's
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who was contesting against Captain Amarinder
Singh's son Raninder Singh.
In Patiala, they reportedly supported Amarinder's wife Preneet Kaur,
thus maintaining ties with both the sides. Akali leaders, including
Badals and Congress', had been visiting the dera regularly. But after
the 2007 controversy when Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh imitated Guru Gobind
Singh and a directive was issued against him by the Akal Takht, Akali
leaders have not been keeping open ties with it. It main followers are
Dalits in Malwa region besides a few followers in Doaba and Majha
regions.
Dera Sachkhand Ballan
It has emerged as the most influential dera of Adi-dharmi (
Ravidassia) community having massive following in Doaba region.
Killing of its deputy head, Sant Ramanand, in a Vienna temple in May
2009 gave it more prominence in the community. Since Congress had a
significant base here, it was believed that the dera had good
relations with its leaders.
However with the emergence of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as the face of
Dalit politics in the state, the dera grew closer to its leaders, so
much so that the foundation stone of Guru Ravidass Gate at Varanasi
was laid by BSP founder Kanshi Ram on May 25, 1997. It was inaugurated
by the then President K R Naraynan on July 16, 1998, with Kanshi Ram's
efforts again. Though it is unlikely to take a clear-cut approach in
this election, its followers tend to swing towards the Congress. It
had announced a new religion -Ravidassia - with a new Granth - Amrit
Bani Sri Guru Ravidass - on January 30, 2009, breaking away from the
tradition of following the Sikh holy book of Guru Granth Sahib.
However, this move faced opposition from within the community, mainly
by Sri Guru Ravidass Sadhu Sampardai Society.
The resentment against SAD also increased as the government scuttled
the dera move to replace Guru Granth Sahib with Amrit Bani at
community shrines. Common refrain in the political circles is that the
dera vote would go against SAD but it is confusing as to who would
encash upon it - the Congress, the BSP or some radical elements who
took a clear stand in support of Amrit Bani. Seth Satpal Mall, a close
confidant of dera management, is now an aspirant for Congress ticket
from Jalandhar West.
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