While looking for the facts about the media’s biased coverage on the whole incident I came across this blog which explains very much about something was really wrong behind the media coverage because not one channel but most of them done the same thing, And Sikhs found themselves fighting the battle of ‘right over wrong’ (sach on jhooth) at two different battlefronts. Here is the whole blog and it is worth reading it.
From the recent news coverage of the Sacha Sauda dera issue, it seems that not all of the news agencies in India are interested in presenting an unbiased version of actual happenings and facts. From live and recorded telecasts, it can be concluded that media is only interested in presenting the matter to make situation worse by distorting facts.Sahara Samay [generally a good source of information] in amongst the channels which has done very little to present an unbiased story to represent both sides. Starting with the tensions that begin four days ago in Punjab, the news channel has taken time to interview many spokespersons of the Sacha Sauda dera but not even one single official representative of the Sikh religion has been interviewed by Sahara Samay.Ever since Gurmeet Ram Rahim has tendered an ‘apology’, the news channel has been highlighting the claims of the Sacha Sauda cult. The apology was delivered directly to Sahara Samay in which he claimed to have always shown uttermost respect to Sikh Gurus, he held that he could not even think about comparing himself with Guru Gobind Singh Ji.Furthermore, some Adtiya ‘Insa’ who was interviewed by a Sahara Samay reporter, tried to put light on the recent issues but failed miserably in doing so. He asserted that if wearing a dress like Guru Gobind Singh Ji is wrong then the Indian Government should impose a ban on such clothing so no one could mistakenly adorn it! He also held that all major religions of the world have some type of baptism/initiation ceremony in which ‘holy water’ in involved, so it was not wrong in any way for the Dera leader to administer holy water to his followers. Earlier today when Gurmeet Ram Rahim tendered his apology, he also asked the Centre Government to impose the clothing ban just so there is no confusion.
These claims have been shown over and over again but what all news reporting agencies, including Sahara Samay, have failed to report is the reason behind Sikh protests. How apologetic was the Dera Leader when he tendered his apology? Who was he supposed to apologize to and who did the apology go to? All what Sikhs are looking for is a formal apology from Gurmeet Ram Rahim and if somewhere in the apology, the Dera Leader had included even conditional apology words (I apology ‘if’ I …) then the tensions in Punjab could have been halted. But this did not happen.
Several explanations have been delivered by Sacha Sauda spokespersons but none have appealed to the Sikhs. The reason? The baptism ceremony is not the only issue that’s behind the fury, in past the Dera has indulged in activities that any Sikh would consider blasphemous. Around five years ago, Sikhs protested in regards to a Dera Sacha Sauda poster that was published by several news papers in Punjab. The poster contained picture of Shah Satnam, the second Guru of the dera under the title of ‘Mard Agamrah Shah Satnaam Ji’. The purpose of the poster was to wish the Sacha Sauda congregation on Shah Satnam’s birth anniversary. The title Mard Agamrah has been associated with the name of Guru Gobind Singh Ji for centuries by the Sikhs. This title has also been used to address Guru Gobind Singh Ji in Vaaran of Bhai Gurdaas Ji as well.
At that time Sikhs were anguished by this poster but no actions were taken by the Government. If no one is willing to work in interests of the Sikh Community, what are the Sikhs supposed to do?
Although Gurmeet Ram Rahim has claimed that he was not copying Guru Gobind Singh Ji in his recently organized baptism ceremony, how much truth is in his claims? The fact that Gurmeet Ram Rahim adorned a dress much similar to that of Guru Gobind Singh Ji could be a mere coincidence, along with the fact that he also wore a plume (kalgi). Keep in mind that Guru Gobind Singh Ji is commonly addressed ‘Kalgidhar’ (wearer of the plume). But looking at the number of other similarities that existed in the baptism of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the number of alleged coincidences could become long:
1.Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the Punj Pyare (five beloved), Gurmeet Ram Rahim instituted Sat Sitaare (seven stars).
2.After administering amrit to the Punj Pyare, Guru Gobind Singh Ji asked them to initiate him in the newly formed Panth. The same was done by Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
3.Guru Gobind Singh Ji bestowed the responsibility of preparing amrit to the Punj Pyare, the same was done by Gurmeet Ram Rahim when he had members of his congregation prepare the ‘Jam-e-Insa’.
4.Punj Pyare give amrit in five ‘chullay’ (installations/sips), the same idea was followed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
5.After Sikhs are baptized, they are asked to adopt the last name Singh or Kaur, the same idea was established by Gurmeet Ram Rahim when he asked his followers to shun their family names and adopt Insa as their only last name after getting baptized.Coincidence? Or Comparison?
The list could get long if past history of this Dera is researched and the list of blasphemies committed to insult Sikh Gurus, history and traditions is undoubtedly also very long. Dera Sacha Sauda leaders aren’t the only ones in India who are interested in portraying themselves in comparison to Sikh Gurus, Naamdhari, Radhaswami, Ashutosh Jha and Bhaniarawala are also included in the list.
Now, to answer the media’s propaganda. Are Sikhs to be blamed for violence?
Some of our Singhs from here called the Bathinda Police Station to inquire about another claim of the media. Along with blaming the Sikhs for showing violence, the media blamed the police officers for failing to break the violence. Several video clips were shown on news channels in which police officers were shown merely standing while Sikh protectors hailed swords outside Sacha Sauda deras in Punjab. The reason? A police inspector from Bathinda confirmed that when the Sikhs were returning from Damdama Sahib after the meeting was concluded there, the Sacha Sauda followers in Bathinda attacked a small group of Sikh visitors who were traveling on a truck-trolley. These Sacha Sauda followers were equipped with huge sums of ammunition which they didn’t hesitate to fire upon the Sikhs. As a consequence, three Sikhs have already been announced dead while several others were badly injured. Not only did the Sacha Sauda follower’s targeted Sikhs, around twenty five police officers were also injured in the clash. Thus for this reason, local police showed their frustration later by not attending when the dera was attacked.
One of the only times when Sahara Samay interviewed Sikhs was after this clash. A group of young Singhs were asked about the incident and they had a similar story to tell. They claimed that the Sacha Sauda followers forced them to change the route towards the dera and when they reached close, they saw many men there equipped with firearms. During another news telecast, a Sacha Sauda follower was shown on the TV claiming that after drinking ‘Jam-e-Insa’ the dera followers have been filled with so much courage that they could battle the Sikhs for a thousand years.
The purpose of this post is not the blame one or the other group but to raise my genuine concerns about biased media coverage of the recent incidents in Northern India. Media should operate to present unbiased reporting, but as can been seen, this has not happened in regards to the recent incidents.
If still some one says that media and that cult has not done anything wrong then nothing is left to say or mention.
With regards and million thanks from: http://forums.waheguroo.com/index.php?showtopic=19079
This is absolutely true…
All in all indian govt never wanted SIKHISM to flourish in india, because they know this genere of people are hard to compete.
the only motive of govt and media is to abandon the sikh roots,
but they are forgetting the past, so many tried this but none succeeded.
so my apeal to all sikh sangat is , plz be literate about your religion , plz be aware of teh sacrifices that our gurus and great sikhsa have made to keep the khalsa flag waving with honour.
don not belive anything that is being aired on media, use your own logic, and be true to your religion.
Always reason.