EXPOSÉ: Vocal UK Sikh fringe groups silent on their links with RSS & Anti-Sikh Punjab government

Posted: 16 Oct 2016

Recently, a lot of hate mongering has been seen on social media channels by some UK based individuals and groups merely due to slight differences over ideology with other Sikh Jathebandis and parchariks.  These groups have verbally abused and given threats to other Sikh preachers.  Especially, the Jagowale Jatha and Baba Charan Singh, supported by groups such as Sikh2Inspire, International Panthik Dal and Tividale Gurdwara have been actively promoting hatred and causing issues between Sikh Sangat of the UK.  These groups have also attempted to radicalize several youth against other Sikh organizations.
Very recently, these Sikh fringe groups in the UK have waged a social media war against Bhai Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, making him their main target.  These groups have made threats to stop his divaans in the UK and report him to the Badal-appointed Jathedars that the Khalsa Panth has rejected and disowned. Further to this, the group have made provocative comments that incite hatred and cold murder of their critics, in the garb of defending their own ideology.
Just this past week, these groups led by the Jagowale Jatha had released a very provocative statement; however, after facing a wave of criticism worldwide, this video of the meeting based at Gurdwara Guru Hari Rai West Bromwich was removed from the internet.
Videos against Bhai Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, made by the UK’s Jagowale Jatha and Charan Singh, supported by groups such as Sikh2Inspire, International Panthik Dal, and Tividale Gurdwara, have gone viral. However, to much surprise, the media campaign to discredit and silence Dhadrianwale and other critics that don’t align with Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma have failed and back fired. The majority of comments on Facebook criticize Jagowale Jatha and their supporters of making a non-issue into an issue, and twisting the truth to disunite Sikhs and divert the global Sikh community’s attention away from Sarbat Khalsa and greater issues facing the Panth.
While these groups are targeting Dhadrianwale and other Sikh Jathebandis over non-issues, these groups themselves have a shady background.  In 2011, video footage of a notorious RSS leader visiting the UK and being greeted by Sikh personalities associated to Damdami Taksal UK was brought to light by Sikh media. However, to this day there has been no response on record from these groups.  While groups like Jagowale and Bhai Charan Singh are vocal about on-going issues in the Panth, they have kept quiet about this anti-Panthik affiliation.  Why did Jagowale Jatha and Charan Singh decide to remain silent on such a serious issue, but wage a social media war on Dhadrianwale?
Fascist RSS leader, Sadhvi Rithambara, visited the UK in June 2007. Several Sikh leaders with proximity with Jagowale and Charan Singh met with Rithambara near the Trafalgar Road in Tividale, Dudley.  Rithambara was treated as a guest of honour and made to sit on a sofa, whilst everyone sat on the floor before her. A Havan was performed in the morning before having the meeting with Sikh personalities later that day. The personalities who attended this meeting were Giani Balbir Singh (Damdami Taksal UK, now leading East London Damdami Taksal), Giani Sohan Singh (Damdami Taksal UK, Head Granthi of Baba Sangh Gurdwara, Smethwick), and Bhai Resham Singh (Damdami Taksal UK, who serves in UK Amrit Sanchars) to name a few.

(Left) RSS fascist leader, Sadhvi Rithambara, at Tividale house meeting with Sikh personalities. (Right) Sadhvi speaking at function with RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat, on 14th April 2008 at Tagore Hall, Ahmedabad

(Left) Giani Balbir Singh (Taksal) present at Tividale house meeting with RSS leader. (Right) Giani Balbir Singh (Taksal) performing Katha in East London, UK

(Left) Giani Sohan Singh present at Tividale house meeting with RSS leader. (Right) Giani Sohan Singh speaking at Smethwick on 30 May 2016 organized by Jagowale Jatha condoning attempted murder of Bhai Dhadrianwale
The previous year, in August 2006, Swami Parmanand Giri, the spiritual Guru of Sadhvi Rithambara visited the UK and was invited to the same residence in Tividale, where the same Sikh leaders met and greeted him. Swami Parmanand, a senior leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and has served as Vice-President of the organisation. The organisation is a right-wing Hindu nationalist organisation based on the ideology of Hindutva. The VHP belongs to the Sangh Parivar an umbrella of Hindu nationalist organisations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is linked to Hindu terrorism against minority religions in India. Sadhvi Rithambara is a disciple of Swami Parmanand, and often mentions his name in veneration before making her aggressive Hindutva speeches. Swami Parmanand, sent Sadhvi Ritambhara and his two other female disciples, all known for their fascist and inflammatory speeches, to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and promote the Hindutva agenda in politics.

RSS, BJP, and VHP leaders offering garlands to Sadhvi Ritambhara`s Guru, Swami Paramananda Giri

 
VHP and RSS senior leader, Swami Parmanand Giri, and Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma

During Swami Parmanand’s tour in 2006, he was invited to the private residence in Tividale and met by Sikh personalities which include Baba Hari Singh Randhawa (General Secretary of Sant Samaj), Giani Avtar Singh Badhni Kalan (Damdami Taksal; grandson of Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji Bhindranwale), Giani Gurdev Singh Southall (UK Damdami Taksal), Giani Balbir Singh (UK Damdami Taksal; now heading East London Damdami Taksal). At this function many of those mentioned received Siropas and posed to have a photo taken with Swami Parmanand.

Swami Parmanand Giri at house meeting in Tividale with Sikh personalities associated to Damdami Taksal UK

(From left) Baba Hari Singh Randhawa, Giani Avtar Singh Badni Kala, unknown Singh, and Giani Gurdev Singh (Taksal) from Southall, sitting in a house meeting in Tividale with Swami Parmanand Giri

VHP and RSS senior leader, Swami Parmanand Giri, with Sikh preachers in a house meeting in Tividale

 
VHP and RSS senior leader, Swami Parmanand Giri, invited to do Katha at the Barsi of Sant Kartar Singh Bhindranwale, organized by Damdami Taksal UK at Gurdwara Baba Sangh Smethwick on August 23, 2008
Along with shady past of these leaders, Giani Takhur Singh Patiala is another leader who has close proximity with Jagowale Jatha and Tividale Gurdwara.  Giani Takhur Singh and Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma in November 2007 attended an RSS event. The event was organized by the then Punjab RSS’ spokesman, Rulda “Singh”, in memory of his son who was killed in a car accident earlier that month. At the time, Khalsa Press exposed his nexus with the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat.

Giani Takhur Singh Patiala & Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma

The event in question was held at the Dana Mandi grounds on Sirhand Road in Patiala on November 20, 2007 and was attended by hundreds of RSS workers, and RSS high command. The International Kathakar, Giani Thakur Singh, was one of those in attendance, who represented Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma (Damdami Taksal-Mehta) at the memorial. Giani Thakur Singh, not only attended the memorial service but also made a speech paying homage to Rulda’s deceased son, and openly spoke about his ties to the RSS spokesman during the days when they were both students in Mehta.  Giani Thakur Singh also sent condolences from Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma, who for some unreported reason could not make it to the function.  Panthik circles speculate that Rulda was implanted to infiltrate at Damdami Taksal headquarters in Mehta.

Giani Takhur Singh Patiala attending RSS leader’s function (source: www.Panthik.org)

 
Giani Takhur Singh Patiala doing a speech at RSS leader’s function (source: www.Panthik.org)

In 2004, Sri Akal Takht Sahib issued a ‘Sandesh’ (a message to the Panth) to boycott the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its offshoot, the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, for their continuous anti-Sikh activities that seek to undermine and destroy Sikhi. After a string of serious anti-Sikh activities that came to light in the wider Sikh community, Sri Akal Takht Sahib called for the boycott, which meant no Sikh was to interact or support the RSS or anyone affiliated to it, in any manner.

Sri Akal Takht Sahib ‘Sandesh’ issued against the RSS on 23-7-2004

It is clear that personalities linked and promoted by Jagowale Jatha UK and the Sikh fringe groups seeking to silence other Panthik preachers, have violated the 2004 ruling of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and betrayed the Panth. Since these revelations became public in 2011, Jagowale Jatha and the supporting UK fringe groups have not condemned the Sikh personalities linked to Damdami Taksal UK meeting and greeting RSS leaders. To this date, Jagowale Jatha and the supporting UK fringe groups have not called to put a ban on Baba Hari Singh Randhawa, Giani Balbir Singh, Giani Avtar Singh Badni Kalan, Giani Takhur Singh and others from doing Katha despite question marks on them for meeting RSS leaders behind closed doors. Why are Jagowale Jatha, Bhai Charan Singh, Sikh2Inspire, International Panthik Dal and others, silent on the anti-Sikh activities of their own who back Prakash Badal and are happy to entertain the RSS?

Prakash Badal appoints BJP’s Kamal Sharma who belongs to Hindu terror group RSS as his advisor

 
Prakash Badal and RSS leaders

 Sukhbir Badal with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and L.K.Advani

 
Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal pays tributes to slain RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja

 Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma (Govt. appointed head of Damdami Taksal Mehta) at the feet of Prakash Badal

Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma (Taksal-Mehta) and Sant Samaj leaders meeting the Badals

Raghbir Singh and Paramjit Singh ‘Dhadi’ from UK, members of International Panthik Dal (IPD) led by Jasbir Singh Rode, meeting with Sukhbir Badal.  Jagowale and International Panthik Dal have held meetings together.  Both condemn the Sarbat Khalsa.

Jasbir Singh Rode and Baba Dhumma with Sukhbir Badal

International Panthik Dal also has close ties with other Sant Samaj leaders, including Baba Sukhdev Singh from Bhucho Kalan of Nanaksar.  In May 2016, Sukhdev Singh indirectly criticised Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale and other Sikh freedom fighters for bringing disharmony in Punjab.  This pseudo-Sant openly spoke in support of Radha Soamis, Dera Sirsa, Ashutosh, and Nakli Nirankaris, claiming they are encouraging others to remember God. He claimed that those that preach peace are good, and that those who retaliated against anti-Sikh forces created suffering for Sikhs. He asked Sikhs not to speak against anti-Sikh activities.
The question is, if Jogowale Jatha and their affiliates in UK are claiming to be defenders of the Sikh faith, why have they remained silent on such anti-Sikh activities of their own?  They have condoned the death of Bhai Bhupinder Singh, incited violence against Dhadrianwale, and also remained silent on Bhai Joga Singh Khalistani’s murder by Sandeep Singh who is linked to Baba Dhumma and Jasbir Singh Rode.  Is it possible that the silence of Jogawale Jatha that their own have affiliations with Akali Dal, Rashtriya Sikh Sangat and other anti-Sikh groups who have ties with Baba Dhumma?