The mayhem spread by the COVID 2.0 pandemic in Delhi and other parts of India is becoming uncontrollable by the hour. Aam Aadmi Party Delhi government of Arvind Kejriwal is taking the naive Sikhs of Delhi for a royal ride. WSN editor Jagmohan Singh appeals to the Delhi Sikh electorate to stay home, stay healthy and stay safe. Should better sense not prevail even at this eleventh hour, just two days prior to polls, Delhi Sikhs must stay away from the elections and teach a lesson to both the government and the Sikh leaders. At this nth hour, Sikhs in Delhi have no choice but to rise as one man and proclaim that they will not participate in the sham elections to the DSGMC.

The Delhi CM wrote to Lieutenant Governor Delhi, Anil Baijal on 20 April 2021, after Sikhs cried hoarse, to issue a notification for postponement of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee polls to 13 May, but his Director of Directorate Gurdwara Elections -Narinder Singh, tells a section of the media that elections will be held on schedule on 25 April 2021.

It is highly ironic that on the one hand, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is making a detailed recommendation to LG Delhi for the postponement of elections, whereas on the other hand, the Director of Gurdwara Election Directorate is telling a section of the media that, “as far as we are concerned, elections are on.”  Sikh representatives of the AAP government in Delhi are maintaining a studied silence and continue to offer lame-duck excuses for the government’s laxity and indecisiveness.

It has been reported that neither the Municipal Corporation of Delhi nor the Delhi Police has arranged for manning of staff at the many electoral booths.

Delhi Sikhs, in deep slumber as ever, but now shaken by the second wave of the COVID19 virus are engaged in saving their lives but are not resisting attempts by the Delhi government to befool them in such trying times. On the other hand, DSGMC president and Badal Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa wants people to participate in polls defying the curfew orders.

So far individually and collectively, the alternative groups in Delhi -social, Sewa, religious have failed to excite the Sikhs for the DSGMC polls. Despite herculean efforts by the WSN, through an online campaign, as many as 75,000 plus votes were cancelled because of non-verification. It is quite possible that a large number of these may have been bogus votes made by the Badal Dal in their last tenure, but the number of registered voters also shows that barely 60 per cent of the eligible voters registered as voters.

This “couldn’t care less attitude” of the Delhi Sikhs is largely responsible for the malaise that confronts them. Apolitical bodies have also failed to “catch the bull by its horns.”

Manjinder Singh Sirsa calling for holding elections in these times is like Nero playing the flute while Rome was burning.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, riding high on the wave of “service to humanity” and the ubiquitous Guru ka Langars, wants to continue his “Sewa” but is unmindful that death is stalking the Sikhs of Delhi, candidates are under quarantine, health system and facilities have choked and collapsed and his call for the conduct of elections is like ‘Nero playing the flute while Rome was burning.”

In a Facebook live on 16 April, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, being ultra-confident that he is going to win, requested people to come out and vote. He categorically said that do not go on rumours that the election is being postponed. Yesterday, on Facebook and in a voice note, he exhorted his party candidates to appoint election agents and complete all other pre-election day formalities.

Taken aback at the crass nature of these leaders, a young voter from the trans-Yamuna area, Amandeep Singh told WSN, “Do we really need such leaders? Such mean and inhuman people should be disqualified from public life, who do not value the lives of people who are facing huge hardships to save their lives from COVID19 pandemic.”

Young Sikh activist -Baljeet Singh, speaking to WSN asked, “Do these leaders know how many young Sikhs have died so far? It is a pathetic situation that anyone should even think of elections during these times.” The Gurdwara Sahib in Defence Colony has been shut and the local Mandir is likely to follow suit soon.

Director Narinder Singh of the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections is inaccessible to the electorate and the media in general. One of his returning officers had the audacity to call JAGO party candidate Parminder Singh, asking him to come to the election office to complete formalities, despite the curfew and despite no curfew e-pass.

Director Narinder Singh of the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections is inaccessible to the electorate and the media in general. One of his returning officers had the audacity to call JAGO party candidate Parminder Singh, asking him to come to the election office to complete formalities, despite the curfew and despite no curfew e-pass.

Deeply worried at the worsening health situation in Delhi, social activist Gurpreet Singh from Chandigarh chastised the Delhi government for its dual approach. Sikh lives cannot be sacrificed at the altar of indecisiveness of the Delhi government and the Directorate must immediately call off the elections. On the one hand, we talk of cancelling polls in other states and here we are making a mess of the lives of Sikhs.

The situation is heartbreaking. As I write these lines, I can hear the shrieks of relatives. I cannot empathise more with the family of Brigadier Retired Rashpal Singh Parmar, who died en route from Delhi to Chandigarh, because he could not get a bed in Delhi, including in the Army base hospital there.

Including Sirsa, none of the other leaders showed exemplary courage to forget electioneering and set up a task force to coordinate community assistance to those in need. Distraught at the state of affairs, running from pillar to post to collect cylinders and provide to those in need, young Sikh activist Amardeep Singh said, “In solidarity with Sikhs who have died and continue to die, all Sikhs must boycott the DSGMC elections in a befitting reply to the prevarications of the Delhi government and a slap to the likes of Sirsa who want to get the elections held by hook or by crook.

Disgusted at the delay in response from the office of Lieutenant Governor’s office to the recommendation of Delhi CM Kejriwal for postponement of the DSGMC elections and with none of the bureaucratic staff answering phones, WSN Delhi Desk associate Gurmeet Singh has started an Online Petition addressed to the LG seeking prompt action. Conscientious Sikh citizens are invited to sign the petition.

Gurmeet Singh said, “As protests on the streets are ruled out, this is a democratic option which the Sikhs must exercise. Sikhs do not want to add up to the woes of their family, friends, society and the city at large. A large number of Sikhs are averse to voting and the government must see the writing on the wall.”

Leading industrialist Iqbal Singh Anand, who has been taking a keen interest in the DSGMC polls fears that “Should the elections be held in such a dangerous atmosphere, committed cadres will exercise franchise and we will have a Kashmir-like verdict.”

“The LT Governor Delhi must not play politics, either on his own or at the behest of the Union government, under the new law wherein he has more powers and cancels these elections for the time being,” he added.

Iqbal Singh Anand, leading industrialist

“The LT Governor Delhi must not play politics, either on his own or at the behest of the Union government, under the new law wherein he has more powers and cancels these elections for the time being,” he added.

Difficult situations require brave decisions, not prevarication. The life and safety of all people, including Sikhs are important and crucial. All elections can wait.