| Nihang saints death may land CM in trouble |
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| Written by Kulwinder Sandhu, Tribune News Service, Moga | |
| Thursday, 08 May 2008 | |
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The sudden demise of Baba Santa Singh, Jathedar of Baba Budha Dal at the Rajindra Medical College and Hospital, Patiala, this evening may land Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal in trouble. A couple of days back, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued a notice to the CM reacting on a writ petition filed by the deceased Baba’s nephew Surinder Singh Babbar who feared that the Badal government may eliminate his ailing uncle under the garb of medical treatment within the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab to capture the fifth Takht, Damdama Sahib. Just two days after the court notice was served to the CM through the Advocate-General’s office, Baba Santa Singh breathed his last. In his writ petition, Babbar had demanded that the ailing Baba be shifted either to the PGIMR Chandigarh or AIIMS New Delhi for better treatment. Talking to The Tribune on telephone, Babbar said that he would be filing an application before the High Court tomorrow demanding the registration of a criminal case of murder under section 302 of the IPC against Badal. He alleged that Badal was indirectly behind the death of his uncle, a great saint, who had kept the traditions of Nihangs alive. He said that Badal was already supporting one Balbir Singh who had illegally captured the takht and property of the Baba with support from the state government. Since, Baba Santa Singh had never compromised politically with Badal throughout his life, the CM always had the desire to capture the fifth takht and divide the Nihangs for his vested political interests, Babbar further alleged. He said that Baba Santa Singh, before his death, had nominated Baba Joginder Singh as acting chief of the Dal and Jathedar of the fifth Takht due to his poor health condition but Balbir Singh, by manipulating with Badal after a few of his family members were shot dead, six months back, captured both the positions forcibly. Political observers were of the view that the row over the reins of the takht was likely to worsen in the days to come as the loyalists of Baba Santa Singh had already started joining hands together to take back the possession of their properties and religious bodies. They were already fighting legal battles for this purpose. There could be a possibility of a clash between the two groups to take possession of the dead body of the Baba. There were reports that the CM had already asked the senior authorities of the police to block all the roads leading to the main dera of the deceased Baba at Patiala that was presently under the control of Balbir Singh, supported by the state government. Meanwhile, there were reports that Baba Joginder Singh had called an emergency meeting of the mahants of various gurudwaras at an undisclosed location tomorrow morning to chalk out their future strategy. This was confirmed by Babbar who had also been invited to attend the meeting. |
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