Kirtan reciter quits after embargo post-his ‘slaves to amaaliyan’ comment

PATIALA: Following a controversy over his ‘slaves to amaaliyan’ (addicts) comment after an embargo being imposed over his recitations during the Safar-e-Shahada (Journey to martyrdom) event organised during the ongoing Shaheedi Jor Mel, renewed Sikh Kirtan reciter Bhai Maninder Singh has called it quits.

Bhai Maninder Singh (Sri Nagar Wale) is the younger brother of Bhai Harjinder Singh and both are known globally with a huge following amongst the Sikhs. He regularly participates in the Safar-e-Shahada which is organised in honour of the Sikh gurus and the sacrifice made by the younger Shabizadas of the tenth Sikh Master Guru Gobind Singh at Fatehgarh Sahib.

The day before yesterday, Bhai Harpal Singh read out a poem “Main Punjab Bolda” (I am Punjab Speaking) during which he lamented that ‘Now Sikhs like Phoola Singh could not be found from amongst the Akalis.” Bhai Maninder also read out his poem in which he lamented that the Sikh Community was heading towards ‘complete disintegration.’

This prompted the local organisers to inform Bhai Maninder Singh that he is not allowed to read out his personal poems and instead he should only be reciting the Guru Bani.

However, Bhai Maninder, while performing during the event re-counted his poem and raised questions against those who were leading the Sikh community and calling the shots.

After his recitation, he said, the organisers have told him that he only had 40 minutes on the stage and that ‘the truth’ that had been spoken yesterday had not been taken kindly by those in power. “I am told there are orders from above, I don’t from where. But they have asked me not to speak the truth. Under these circumstances, I call it quits and this is my last performance as I know that now I will not be allowed to perform from anywhere,” he said from the stage.

Delivering a verse from the Gurbani he said, “Je Koi bole Sach Koorda Jal Jaye” (If someone speaks of the truth, trash catches fire) he said adding, “Those who were no good than trash have been hurt by what was said during the Safar-e-Shahada,” he said.

During his performance, the Sikh reciter without naming anyone said, the community has been disintegrated and the Akal Takht which was common for all was now under control of a few.

He said those who are leading the Sikhs have pushed the entire community in a ditch and he even subtly called from a rebellion as all Jathedars had turned ‘Sarkari’.

He said he had nothing to do with any organisation, but those who were in ‘possession’ of highest temporal seats of the Sikhs should keep in mind that the people can throw them away.

Without making any direct reference to anyone, he made an appeal to the Sikh masses to become ‘Amritdhari’ (Baptised Sikhs) or else they would continue to be ‘slaves to the ‘Amaaliyan’ (addicts) that was followed by huge sloganeering by the attendees.