By R. Paul Dhillon
SOUTH VANCOUVER – The shutdown of the well run Guru Nanak Elementary School located within the premises of Khalsa Diwan Society, Vancouver’s Ross Street Sikh Temple last week made a lot of headline with much community opposition as well as upset parents whose children did not have a school to go to when for them the school closed suddenly on Tuesday after the long summer break.
The school known as the Guru Nanak Sikh Elementary school had been operating for two years with about 73 students and it was the school’s principal Devinder Maan who went public with the sudden closing, calling the temple executive’s actions “shocking.”
Maan issued a press release late Monday, September 5th, distributed by Punjabi Press Club gatekeeper and renowned painter Jarnail Singh, which read “just shocked as the Sikh community is struggling to promote culture, religion and moral values and now this education institution is being shut down by Khalsa Diwan Society executives.
“Khalsa Diwan Society executive has snatched smiles from many innocent faces. It is a black mark in the glorious history of Khalsa Diwan Society. It also leaves a big question mark for Vancouver’s sikh community about what guiding principles are followed to run these religious places,” Maan said
But apparently later in the week, without any press release to all the media, Maan was in front of Punjabi news cameras changing his tune, allegedly saying that he knew about the closure and the protest was all planned.
But in the interview with the LINK on Friday morning – Maan denied that it was planned propaganda, saying the Punjabi OMNI news twisted his words to make it sound like it was planned when what he was really saying was that when he got the news Monday night that the school would not open – he told the parents and planned the protest.
The temple executives say that when Maan held the press conference – he forgot to tell the gathered media that he hadn’t paid the temple’s utilities bills and other expenses despite the fact that the temple had given him the lease for $1. But Maan denies this as well, telling the LINK that as per the agreement the school spent $150,000 on renovations and all bills were paid, except extra expenses that were not part of the school. The school received annual grant of $240,000 from the provincial government.
But Ross Street temple president Kashmir Dhaliwal told the LINK that all the propaganda was orchestrated by Maan and perhaps their enemies to discredit the executive, especially with the upcoming November 12 election.
“We have been very supportive of the school and even helped out Mr. Maan with many things, including giving the building free but it’s unfortunate that the school had to close because of Mr. Maan’s conduct. He knew that the agreement that he signed with us long ago would mean that his lease ran out and we didn’t renew it because he owed so many expenses,” Dhaliwal said.
When the LINK asked Dhaliwal, why didn’t the executive take over the school or open one in its place since it is a big loss to the Sikh community – he said due to legalities – they could not take over the school from Maan because it was in the name of his society.
Dhaliwal said they plan to demolish the old structure where the school was currently operating and put in a new structure with a Gurdwara and a school if they are successful at winning another election in November.
When asked to answer their opponents’ charges that the executive has taken Komagata Maru “bribe money” from the Federal Conservatives instead of demanding an official apology for the racist black mark on Canadian history – Dhaliwal said they have not accepted any money from the government but in fact are just managing the construction of the museum and memorial with the invoices going directly to third party agency who will pay the bills. But on the official apology question Dhaliwal was not so forthcoming.
Dhaliwal, who describes himself as anti-Khalistani, not a leftist and proud Sikh, also complained about the coverage in the leading South Asian newspaper the LINK which always tells it like it is and does not mince words.
We used some strong language to describe the conduct of the executive’s decision to close the school by using labels that their opponents have painted them with and it is our prerogative to do that as it is fair comment.
Our editorial remains pertinent because a valuable Sikh community school was closed down due to the inaction of all parties involved in this mess. While we regret the use of strong language in this case – the language like “bonehead” was intended to refer to the political decision making and the ensuing fallout rather than directed at any individual. The editorial is even more pertinent since Maan continues to blame the temple executives for the closure of the school.
The LINK, community’s oldest newspaper going into its 38th year of publishing, is always cognitive of the fact that we are fair but we can only report on those who are willing to cooperate and tell us their side of the story but we cannot do anything for those in power who feel that whatever they are doing is right and the media is wrong. In any case we only speak the wishes and desires of the community and have no agenda of our own. So if you feel slighted, please pick up the phone and call and tell us your side. We are always ready to tell every side of the story.
