Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (KP) - Rozana Spokesman’s everyday operations seem to have become standardized over the past few years.  Does editor Joginder Sawney wake up every morning dreaming of a new controversy to spur?  After planning the right time to propagate his controversial opinions, he waits for the reaction (which is always negative) and then thinks of a way to renege. Depending on the nature of the situation, sometimes he simply chooses not to act further and let people forget it over time.

Following his support of Kala Afghana’s agenda on Sikh Baptism, Kakaars, Ardas, Dasam Granth Sahib and others, Joginder Sawney recently blasphemed against the status of Bhagat Ravidaas Ji. Now he has opened up another front to further defy traditions of the Khalsa Panth.  This time the ‘concern’ was seva and satkaar of Guru Granth Sahib. Through Hari Ratan Yukta, a non-Sikh, Joginder Sawney published an article questioning the need of showing reverence to Guru Granth Sahib. 

In no time, Sikh organizations based throughout Punjab and abroad took strong notice of remarks by Rozana Spokesman and launched several projects to stop the blasphemy by the Mohali based newspaper.  Panthic Weekly reported in last week’s edition that the Shiromani Akali Dal (A) has played the lead role in initiating legal actions against the newspaper.  Now that legal cases have started to be registered, the Rozana Spokesman has tendered an apology, written by Hari Ratan Yukta, pleading innocence.

Yukta, a non-Sikh, tenders apology, pleads innocence

After realizing the impact of his mistake, Hari Ratan Yukta pleaded innocence in another article published in the Rozana Spokesman.  Yukta held that he had merely posed a question and had no intent of causing sacrilege.  He claims that while reading the "Satyarth Parkash" by Swami Dayanand Saraswati, he was baffled with some claims made by the Arya Samaj Founder in his literature.

But according to the famous Punjabi saying – “Waris shah Na Aadtaa Jandiyaa Ne,” while claiming his innocence, Yukta reverts back to his initial claim and states that although he was able to refute claims by Swami Dayanand, he had no answer for why Sikhs bow to Guru Granth Sahib.  Very cleverly, he states, “I did not intend to cause doubts, my sole purpose was to find out how and why the Brahmanic idea of bowing entered the Sikh mainstream.”  In other words, while apologizing, Yukta is clearly holding allegiance to his initial remarks.

Rozana Spokesman blames Simranjit Singh Mann

In an effort to save its reputation, the Rozana Spokesman published an article by Sukhdev Singh Doad in which the former Shiromani Akali Dal (A) member blames Simranjit Singh Mann for uselessly raising another controversy against the Rozana Spokesman.  Sukhdev Singh Doad, who was formerly associated with Akali Dal Amritsar, joined hands with Panch Pardhani rebels after the ousting of Daljit S. Bittu.

Doad also supports Yukta's claims that showing reverence to Guru Granth Sahib is a Brahmanic idea.  Doad further states that to express his anguish at Spokesman for not writing in favor of his Vaisakhi rallies, S. Mann purposely geared up these controversies. 

One question that arises after Doad’s remark is why in fact was no coverage provided to Mann’s campaign?  Although Badal is often criticized in the newspaper, his rallies and advertisements find sensational spots in the newspaper.  If coverage can be provided to RSS agents, why can’t Spokesman cover events by S. Mann?

Doad further asked that if other Sikh historians can refer to Guru Granth Sahib Ji as a book, what wrong did Yukta commit in using the same vocabulary?  In addition, he blames S. Mann of creating issues to find spots in newspapers while stating that Rozana Spokesman was fully committed to the cause of the Panth.