IOSS withdraws its controversial press release on Dasam Bani

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT -  CHANDIGARH - Displaying great sense of propriety and courage, Institute of Sikh Studies (IOSS), Chandigarh withdrew and rescinded its controversial Press Release of April 3 on Dasam Bani where it had termed "Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Banis including Zafarnamah" as non-Gurbani.

Unanimous condemnation by all the members of the IOSS of the arbitrary manner in which the said Press Release was issued expedited its unconditional withdrawal.

Some members of IOSS were up in arms against the manner in which the Press Release was issued at the behest of one Jasbir Singh Mann, a California based orthopaedic surgeon known for his blasphemous and anti-panthik views on Dasam Bani. Interestingly the Press Release written on the letter head of the IOSS and duly signed by its president Bhai Ashok Singh Bagrian was never released to the press, but a copy of this was made available to Mann who promptly uploaded it on his website. This posed a clear question mark not only on the intent of the Press Release but also on the working of the prestigious Institute claiming to be adhering to norms and systems. When contacted almost all the members of the Institute expressed their ignorance of the existence of any such Press Release and were distressed by its contents.
 
Withdrawing the controversial Press Release Institutes's President Bhai Ashok Singh Bagrian termed it as "so-called" and which was "issued through oversight". He went on to express regrets and sought apology for the inconvenience caused and  hurting the sentiments of the adherents.

A large number of the members were also of the view that since Akal Takhat has categorically declared vide its Hukamnama of November 27, 2006 that anybody speaking against Dasam Granth is a 'mischevious person' and has also directed the Panthak scholars to give befitting reply to such people, IOSS claiming to abide by directives of Akal Takhat is rather duty bound to honour the Hukamnama and cannot take a contrary stand.
 
It may be pertinent to add that the prestigious institute has been put to great embarrassment by this California based orthopedic surgeon turned 'scholar' who is infamous for habitual distortion, twisting and  misquoting the text and contents of Dasam Bani and Sikh history. He is also known in the media circles for 'showering magnanimity' on anyone who could publicize and carry his half baked and distorted views and absurd theories.

Even earlier Jasbir Singh Mann had gone astray by falsely quoting blasphemous and slandering remarks against Mata Ganga ji, and these were then published in the journal of the Institute of Sikh Studies. Sources close to the Institute have confirmed that the article containing these maligning remarks against the mahal of Guru Arjan Dev ji will be removed.

Because of these reasons the recent Panthak Convention and Seminar held at Gurdwara Sahib, Bradshaw road, Sacramento had demanded from IOSS to de-list all articles of this pseudo scholar.

The deceptiveness and malignant  motive of this pseudo 'scholar' is known from the fact that though IOSS has withdrawn and apologized for having issued the Press Release by mistake, and a copy of the withdrawal has been sent to him also, but the webisite of Jasbir Singh Mann still carries the Press Release prominently.