Sunday, May 20, 2007
Jhootha Dera and its Baba
The baba lives in an 18-acre stronghold within the mini-township. When he emerges, he moves around in regal style surrounded by his bodyguards.
In 2001, Rajinder, a follower, fell-out with the leader and sometime later he was murdered at his hometown in Kurukshetra. Two Dera members are accused in this murder case.
Then a year later, Ram Chander Chatrapati, a local journalist, printed a letter that had allegations of sexual abuse by an anonymous woman against the Dera chief.
Chatrapati was shot dead at his home. Three Dera followers were arrested in the case, two of which were held at the murder site.
''The people from the Dera had threatened my father and then one day he was shot dead,'' said Anshul, Son of Ram Chander Chatrapati.
Now all these cases are being investigated by the CBI .
''We've said everything we had to and we won't say anything now,'' said Dr Aditya Arora, Spokesman, Dera Sacha Sauda.
Controversies notwithstanding, the baba's clout has grown.
The Dera's appeal is to largely to the marginalized and backward sections the Dalits - a potent political force which the Dera chief successfully tested in February.
In the Punjab elections in 2007, he asked his followers to vote for the Congress, something that helped the party improve its tally in the southern area known as Malwa.
The Dera chief's son is married to the daughter of a Congress MLA. But it's not clear whether the chief will be playing a more prominent role.
For now, peace-negotiators have told him to lie low.
(Source: NDTV)
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3 comments:
An appeal to sikhs:
If there is really any value in sikh religion and in 10th guru, don't be bothered by any cartoon imitating it. The real thing is inner, and that is something people need to understand deeply and urgently. The outer does not matter, and noone can imitate the inner, there is no way... So don't be worried about monkeys(imitators), and don't worry about the people following him, if they like monkeys, let them like, if he has nothing of the inner, they are just being stupid, and its their freedom and their choice.... No need to worry, and no need of any protest... :-)
But surely, launch a serious, strict and urgent legal investigation and put them behind bars, if they have been doing something wrong.... That will be the simplest, best way of setting things right...
But at ANY cost, please don't burn OUR beatiful Punjab again... :-)
>> I would also request Sikh bretheren to not to play in the hands of politicians. Let us maintain our composure and peacefully protest against the Dera Head's misadventure.
This is sensible and what i expect from a sensible person like you.
Why Indians are so emotional? Lets not discuss whether dera head is good or bad. The issue is of freedom, if everyone takes law into their hands or threatens to do it, what are we talking about one country? How can the Sikh clergy ask to close the Deras. On what grounds. If there is immoral or antisocial activities, you should complain about that and ask to stop. Its like crucification of Christ, without giving right reasons.
Indians are proud of sikh courage and sacrifice for the country. Please do not use that against the country.
I do appreciate that there is relatively less violence. But, why make such a big hue and cry and threaten the basics of the nation and constitution? Veiled threats on going back to terrorism days are not the way to go. If this is the way everyone wants to go, we should split this nation.
As you say, we are Indians. Its not good that one community is aggressive than the other. Be it Muslim, Hindu or Sikh. Did u in your mind justify the MF hussain protest and Pope protest? Those protest were also as bad.
What does Indians do other than protest and be emotional. Be it the Book on Shivaji, or the Rajkumar death, MF Hussain Painting, Ambedkar statue desecration. Jaspreet, didnt u consider these as acts of stupidity. Or did u appreciate these protests?
If i say something against a community, you can protest, not kill me. I cannot live in a threat that my brother will kill me. Its like living in Pakistan as a Hindu.
Lets live like normal people. Sikhs are never discriminated in India. Sikhs live with pride and is respected, be it North or south. There are many communities in India which is discriminated against. Just bcos they do not go around brandishing Swords, doesnt mean that they do not have self respect. It is better to protest in a CIVIL way and like civilized humans. Not getting emotionall hurt with everything and threatening.
We have enough intolerance in this country, why add to it. If a sensible and cool person talks so hyper about it, I can understand what is the state in Punjab. Please do not get hyper on my comments, I am not leaving my name because I do not want to loose such a *good, *cool, *sensible friend like you.
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