AapnaPunjab Newsletter

Chairman's Letter 5

Sat Sri Akal,

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and more importantly in supporting our efforts in making a difference in the lives of needy Punjabis.

In the December 2005 Issue 2 of our newsletter, I stated that there was a strong demand from the sangat in “exposing some Babas of Deras that were misleading and hoodwinking the sangat for their own personal gains”.

Based on the numerous complaints presented to me, I decided to join the sangat from around the world to take on Mann Singh Pehowa who was continuing to take advantage of innocent and trustworthy people for his own personal gains. Do read the recent press coverage.

I have personally nothing against Baba Pehowa. But based on the evidence collected, its evident that he is guilty of amassing wealth, sexual harassment and human trafficking. How can people from different parts of the world ( India, US, UK and Australia), that don’t know each other, collaborate on the misconduct and money extortion against Pehowa? Sworn affidavits keep coming in from around the world ever since we publicized this campaign in the media and they all speak of the same consistent abuse.

More so , how can a person that was raised in poverty increase his property from 2 acers to 300+ acers? Why would people, from his own inner circle, speak up against his wrong doings? This is not a conspiracy or a personal vendetta - it’s simply a matter of a dishonest, selfish person taking advantage of people in need. Clearly, he needed to be stopped.

Next Steps

1. We are asking the Alkal Takth jathedar and SGPC president to bring all high priests together to deliberate over the accusations. Pehowa needs to be excommunicated first and then we will pursue legal charges against him in the courts. All his property should be taken over by the SGPC via legal means and transformed into a trust.



2. We are going to join the managing committees of various gurdwaras from around the world to petition to the High Commissions of the various countries to deny Pehowa any visas because he divides the community, does money laundering and human trafficking. His legal name and passport number are: Sant Mann Singh, Passport # Z-1294114. Please join us by submitting your petitions to your countries' consulates in India. The following Gurdwara committees that have already petitioned; Gurdwara Sabhib Dashmesh Darbar, NJ, Sri Guru Ravi Das Sabha, NY, Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Washington DC, Sikh Youth of America, NY, Guru Nanakan Mission, NY, Sikh Cultural Socity, NY, Gurdwara Sant Sagar, NY, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur International Society, NY

I want to thank the sangat in New York, California and UK for their bold and united stand against Pehowa.

UK, USA ( New York, Bay Area) Visit: I will be visiting the UK and USA this month and would love the opportunity to meet with the sangat. My approximate dates of travel are as follows:

Please call me or email me if you would like to meet with me personally or invite me to your local gurdwara.

Again, thank you to all our supporters for their continued support.

Kind regards,

Col G. S. Sandhu (retd)
Chairman, AapnaPunjab and Majha Ex-Serviceman Human Rights Front -Mobile (+91) 9876169922

Aapna Punjab Anti-Drug Rally

BHIKIWIND, Aug 23 2006 – Aapna Punjab organized a massive anti-drug rally that was attended by approx 4,000 people, mainly women and children. Plans for opening drug de-addiction centers and AIDS rehabilitation centers were announced. The first center will be established in Village Pahuwind. SikhGiving, a US non-profit organization also participated in the rally and pledged support.

Five member committees will be formed in each village to psychological prepare patients for deaddiction treatment (it's very hard on the patient, so they are scared and need appropriate counciling). The treatment is actually very good, it has an 80% success rate. The 15 day treatment costs Rs1,500 and the patient has to be under tight medical supervision (because it is hard on the patient) during treatment because of withdrawal symptoms.

The committee will also address AIDS education and female feticide awareness, which is also on the rise. The AIDS epidemic is exploding in rural Punjab and there is no awareness among the people. Quacks continue to pass the virus via syringes, men bring it home via unprotected sex with sex workers. Take for example this recent case of one truck driver that first passed on the virus to his wife and child, both the wife and the child died. The driver married again, had another child and then he died. Now most likely the second wife and child have AIDS. All this could be prevent with proper counseling if the infrastructure existed.

Aapna Punjab, along with the support of the local administration and Police, intends to ramp up its anti-drug and AIDs prevention programs.

Rally Pictures