May 1

Ajit Singh Dhaliwal

Guru Piar-a Khalsa Jio,

Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa

Waheguru Jee Kee Fateh

There is no pleasure writing this story. I am writing it only to give you the true and accurate information because the other side is misleading the Sikh Sangat and trying to picture a bad image of GNFA and its management worldwide by using the internet.

Three Ragis were costing GNFA(Guru Nanak Foundation Of America) over $60,000 per year as per a 14 years old contract. In January 2002 board unanimously passed a resolution to cut GNFA payroll. Minutes of that meeting were sent to all the trustees and got approved. GNFA suspended Ragis contract and notified them (legally required). It was clearly mentioned in the notice that GNFA may render their services as needed basis and compensate accordingly. I am going to detail rest of the story in steps:

1. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS: On Monday evening (4/22/2002) Ragis were served a notice of suspension of their contract with GNFA (legally required). On Wednesday GMC (Gurdwara Management Committee) requested the Ragis to give the keys and evacuate the room they used to use for rest only while they were in the Gurughar (They own a single family home and live there since 1998). They refused and called their few supporters to confront the GMC. Somebody called the police. Ragis and their supporter tried to establish tenet/landlord relation and accused that GMC is trying to throw them on the street and they have on place else to live. GMC explained to the police that Ragis do not live here. GMC needed that room to adjust the visiting Ragis because the rented trailer is being removed to cut $800/month expense. Police agreed with the GMC and told the Ragis to evacuate within 24 hours and allowed the GMC to change the lock. On Thursday Ragis defied the verbal police order, changed the lock again, locked the room and left the Gurughar. At about 10:00pm Police officer came, knocked the door, checked himself that the room is locked and nobody is there. On Friday at about 4:00pm GMC Secretary, Chairman, GNFA attorney and the police officer came to GNFA. Ragis locked the room and tried to escape. Two of them escaped in a small car but the third one could not. Police officer asked him to hand over the keys. He tried to play game with the officer by giving him wrong set of keys 3-4 times. Chairman removed (not broke) the door with police permission. Police officer took note of Ragis belongings and told him that they could take their belonging whenever they want and gave GMC possession of the room. In the meantime other two Ragis came back in a minivan. Frustrated police officer decided to give them a written citation prohibiting them from entering the Gurughar. Secretary requested the police officer not to do so. Police officer said that they have defied verbal police order so I am going to give them a written citation. With secretary’s request, he agreed to add a clause so that they could come the Gurughar with GMC’s permission. On 6:30pm about 20 people, mostly youth (more that half of them belongs to other Gurughar) came to protest in support of Ragis. While they were protesting outside peacefully another 15/20 people mostly ladies joined them and took them inside in the lobby. 5/6 people ladies and gents went into the main Diwan hall and grabbed the [visiting] Kirtan Jatha from the stage and stopped the Kirtan. 3-4 other people got involved and managed to send the Jatha back to the stage. In the lobby number of protester grew to 60/70 people. Most of them were very angry, they were shouting very loudly, ladies were pushing around the secretary, blocking the main entrance to Diwan hall and stopping the Sangat from going to the Diwan hall. Police officers told the chairman that they can not tolerate disruptive behavior, it could lead to violence. Police officers told the chairman that they are about to make some arrests. Chairman requested the police not to arrest anybody and asked just hold on for few more minutes. Chairman went to Kirtan Jatha and requested them to conclude the Diwan. Kirtan Jatha finished the Shabad, did Anand Sahib, Ardas and Vaak; and concluded the Diwan as per Rehat Maryada. After that Police ordered everybody to evacuate the premise. On Sunday Morning same people came to protest again. Police did not let them in until they agreed to remain peaceful. Sukhmani Sahib Path, Asa Di Var Diwan and Morning Diwan were held normally and peacefully. In the afternoon in the Board of Trustees meeting Youth members spoke and raised their concern regarding learning Kirtan in the future. Later on Board unanimously agreed to establish a more organized Kirtan learning program. A decision was made to establish a 6 member reconciliation committee by taking 3 members from each side. This committee will try to resolve all the issues including the court cases.

FINANCIAL SITUATION OF GNFA: GNFA’s average monthly income is about $10,000. Last year GNFA purchased adjoining 10 acres land for $1.8 million. GNFA paid $500,000 on closing and got a loan for the rest. GNFA pays $9600 monthly mortgage. The people who were advocating very strongly to purchase the land assured the board that they will prepare 200 people to pay $50 per month regularly to make up for the mortgage. After the purchase they backed off, now GNFA either make the payment or loose $500,000 and much needed 10 acres land. GNFA was running over $5000 short every month. In an effort to meet the monthly expenses, board decided to suspend Ragis contract in January of this year which was costing GNFA over $60,000 per year. GNFA also decided to remove the rented trailers to cut another $800/month expense.

FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE RAGIS: Ragis average monthly income is well over $15000 (separate from GNFA payroll). They do Kirtan programs and sell musical instruments and Palkis. They own a 7-8 hundred thousand dollar very large single family home in a very decent community (This home is almost paid off). They own properties in Delhi, India als0.

POLITICAL SITUATION OF GNFA: In March 2000, the pro-Indian embassy group lost election. (one of the leading member of this group is Mr. Surjit Singh. He is the person whose father joined the Rajiv Gandhi welcome committee and garlanded Rajiv when he came to USA). A Panthik group won the election and came into majority. These Panthik trustees want to run GNFA according to the Rehat Maryada, support Sikh cause, develop a very organized Punjabi and Kirtan school for the youth, build a bigger and better Gurughar Building. Hire a missionary trained bilingual Granthi Sahib who could communicate fluently with the youth (on a year to year contract). Depend on visiting Jathas for the Kirtan.

ROLE OF THE SUSPENDED RAGIS: Although one of them has a Music degree from India, non of them has any professional or missionary training about Sikhim. Non of them is a qualified Granthi Sahib. They participate in politics very actively, make members and call people personally to vote and support pro embassy group. Last year when board and the GMC decided to hire a professional bilingual teacher for the youth. They hijacked the issue and spread a rumor that GMC is trying to get rid of them. They told their supporters to boycott the GMC, not to put any money in GNFA golk and do to give any donation to the GNFA. GNFA income suffered because of this. They told their supporters to book the langar sewa and cancel it at the last moment to harass GMC. In last October when GMC tries to have a meeting with them, they became very abusive and tried to get physical. On Friday (4/25/02), One of them chased GNFA’s attorney car, broke his turn signal, kicked his car door and tried to grab his wife from the passenger seat.