Warring sparks row with ‘Panth Ratan for MMS’ demand

Jalandhar: There was unreserved praise for former PM Manmohan Singh from several Sikh quarters, including Akal Takht jathedar and SGPC, after his passing away. However, a controversy has been triggered after Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring urged the Akal Takht jathedar through a letter to bestow the title of ‘Panth Ratan' upon the Congress leader."Dr Manmohan Singh is an inspiring figure for not only Sikhs but everyone because he possessed the qualities of hard work, humbleness, honesty, speaking meaningfully with no malice, and an inclusive attitude for welfare that every religion teaches. He reached the top position without giving up on these qualities. However, he cannot be a candidate for ‘Panth Ratan' because he did not do anything especially for the Panth. Congress men with little or no knowledge of Panthic traditions should refrain from making such statements. The respect for Dr Singh within Sikhs can be gauged from the fact that cutting across party lines, Sikhs came for his antim ardaas. Let us not create a controversy in his memory," wrote former SGPC general secretary and member Kiranjot Kaur on her Facebook account.Radical Sikh group Dal Khalsa also took exception to Warring's demand, stating that the late PM served India and not the Sikh community and its interests. Hence, Congress should request the Indian govt for the Bharat Ratan title for him, instead of seeking Panth Ratan from Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh.Joining issue with Raja Warring, Mand said as far as Manmohan Singh's apology for the Nov 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom was concerned, it was the irony that Congress used a face from the victim community to seek an apology from his co-religious brethren for the sins Congress top brass committed. "If Congress wants any title for Dr Singh, it should approach Narendra Modi govt and seek Bharat Ratna for him," said Dal Khalsa working president Paramjit Singh Mand. "Dr Singh will go down in history as the PM who served two tenures in a row, a PM of extraordinary brilliance, impeccable honesty, and personal integrity, and in some eyes, a PM who remained tied down by personal loyalty to the Gandhi family," he added.