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Moderate Sikhs oppose jathedar's visit to the US

A Special Correspondent in New York

Vowing that a controversial Sikh priest would be allowed to enter the United States, several high-profile Sikh activists in Washington have started lobbying friendly congressmen, the Canadian press alleged.

Gurmit Singh Aulakh, president of the Council of Khalistan in Washington, DC, said over the weekend that he is confident a waiver would be granted, to allow Ranjit Singh into the United States.

Aulakh, who is close to conservative congressmen like Dan Burton and Senator Jessie Helms, both Republican representatives, is spearheading efforts to lobby congressmen on Singh's behalf, the Canadian news agency said.

"They shouldn't take too long but it was something that was without precedent," he said.

Bhai Ranjit Singh, the Akal Takht jathedar, the highest authority of the Sikh religion, was convicted for murder some years ago. Which is why the US government revoked his visitor's visa, several top Canadian publications pointed out in their stories.

Moderate Sikhs in Canada oppose the visit, saying his support of Sikh fundamentalist views could ignite new violence in the fractured community.

Aulakh and his supporters hope the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service will grant him a waiver based on his importance within Sikhism, news agencies reported on Friday.

"He is the highest-elected official of the Sikh nation," said Aulakh.

"He's our spiritual and political head. There is no question of asking for anything. We don't have to have any excuses."

However, news agencies said at the weekend that the state department and immigration officials would not confirm Ranjit Singh had even applied for the waiver nor how long it might take to process.

As for the murder charge, Aulakh told the media that Bhai Ranjit Singh does not believe in violence.

"He never propagated violence himself. It was a struggle," said Aulakh. "This man (Gurbachan Singh) was defiling our guru at the behest of the Indian government to weaken Sikhism. He (Ranjit Singh) is not a criminal," he said.

Sikh moderates in the Vancouver area worry fundamentalists would flock to see Ranjit Singh in Seattle, a three-hour drive away, several Canadian newspapers said.

"If he is coming over there, the people will go there and they will ask something, and he will make certain statements due to which there might be bloodshed," said Sadhu Singh Samra, vice-president of the Guru Nanak temple in suburban Surrey.

Ranjit Singh excommunicated several Vancouver moderate Sikhs for defying his edict to remove tables and chairs from temple dining areas. Aulakh told reporters that he did not know if Ranjit Singh planned to raise the issue during the tour.

"Anybody (can) ask him anything; he will respond," Aulakh said. "He's a straightforward person. I don't think he will be wishy-washy on any issue."

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