Is Sad (mann) Finished In The West?

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Is SAD (Mann) finished in the West?

Written by Jasvir Singh

Friday, December 07, 2007

In the last ten months the number of those who support Simranjit Singh Mann and belong to SAD (Mann) in the UK, mainland Europe, Canada and the USA have naturally been on the decline. First was the total humiliation at the last elections in February, followed by the inevitable resignation of Simranjit Singh Mann. However, defying all logic this was subsequently reversed, taking away significantly from his reputation and virtually making him vulnerable to the charge that he cannot be taken as a serious politician.

Many realised at this stage that there needed to be a reality check and long term thinking and planning as the decline of SAD (Mann) would continue. The fiasco of the SAD (Mann) leadership coincided with Daljit Singh Bittu demonstrating his political maturity in his joint-Convenorship role in the Khalsa Action Committee.

Simranjit Singh Mann’s reaction to the growing threat to his leadership meant the writing was on the wall about his political future. The emergence of Daljit Singh Bittu was also of great concern to those around Simranjit Singh Mann that knew they would lose what little position they had.

The split between SAD (Mann) and SAD (Amritsar) led by a temporary new five-member leadership is now almost complete. Many have deserted Simranjit Singh Mann in Punjab and this is expected to continue while a new constitution for SAD (A) is developed by April 2008.

But what is the future for SAD (Mann) in the West? In the run up to the SAD (A) General Assembly in Alamghir on 30 November those who previously associated with Simranjit Singh Mann in many countries – UK, France, USA, Canada etc. and many others interested in ensuring a better Sikh leadership in Punjab have come out in support of a move away from a leadership based on dictatorship or a family enterprise to a five-member leadership, new constitution and proper membership and accountability in Punjab.

SAD (Mann) in the West is all but finished as an entity that matters. The handful of individuals in the West that continue to support Simranjit Singh Mann will be marginalised and follow him to the political wilderness. Sikhs in the UK, USA and Canada where more than half a million Sikhs live in each country are critical to determining the future structure or support mechanism for the new SAD (A) set up. A consensus is being developed amongst like-minded and leading Sikh organisations in these three countries and the smaller number of Sikhs in mainland Europe.

It is hoped that at the time of the next World Sikh Summit in the USA in early February 2008 the plan is to not only provide a clear vision and roadmap for the establishment of an independent sovereign Sikh State, but to clarify the respective role of the expected new SAD (A) set up in Punjab and its links with like-minded and leading Sikh organisations in the West.

However, given the demise of SAD (Mann) in the West, it still leaves the question as to whether it is proper to have an SAD (Amritsar) structure in the West? Many are of the view that the changes in SAD (A) in Punjab must be matched with a new approach to its representation in the West. The reality in the West must be accepted – that there are already a number of leading independent Sikh organisations – Sikh Federation (UK), Sikh Youth of America, America Gurdwara Prabandakh Committee, United Sikh Federation etc. that have their own priorities and areas of work, but are likely to associate and support the new SAD (A) set up if it remains issue based and accountable.

The initial advice to the new SAD (A) set up is therefore to confine the new structure and membership to Punjab, but by April 2008 to formalise the indirect link with independent Sikh organisations in the West, including those that have the establishment of an independent sovereign Sikh State not only as a specific objective, but are taking practical steps to bring this about through peaceful and democratic means by lobbying and influencing foreign governments.

http://worldsikhnews.com/index.php?option=...iew&id=1246