Q. In a secular country, is the Sikh community curbing your religious freedom?
A. We would ask you to just correct the words a little. The Sikh community has always loved us, it still does, and it always will. We too love the Sikh community, we still do, and we always will. The gurus, prophets and saints of religion have always been most worthy of our worship and will always be. So what you say is not true. Please take a look at the sadh-sangat seated here; just look at how many of the Sikh community is seated here. As to who is curbing our religious freedom, you know this pretty well; perhaps it is not necessary that we tell you. Chanting Ram-Naam; taking the name of Allah, Waheguru, God, Khuda, Rabb is not a crime but a necessity for every human being. We believe in all religions and it is the first lesson of all religions that one should remember Om, Hari, Allah, Waheguru, Ram, God, Khuda, Rabb as soon as one wakes up in the morning. You yourself know this, so what else can we say about this?

Q. The accusations that have been leveled against you in court, the directions the court has given, what have you to say about these?
A. It is one thing to make an accusation and another thing to prove it. There is the judicial procedure. This matter is being looked into by the honourable court and we have great faith in the honourable court. In reality we help people get rid of these vices. It is an irony that more than two crore people are getting rid of these vices by our inspiration and yet we ourselves are being accused of this. We have full faith in our Allah, Ram, Maalik.

Q. Is there a threat to your life? From whom?
A. We are seated in front of you! What threat can saints have?! But if someone thinks so, let him think so! As to ‘from whom,’ you people know this better; you people know everything and yet want to hear it from us. The service that we do is something that God makes us do and the sadh-sangat obeys us. We make them donate blood; we make them quit their addictions; we forbid them from doing bad deeds; we inspire them to give up everything that is bad; we ask them to fast for one day in a week and feed those who are handicapped, helpless and who sleep hungry in the nights in railway stations; we ask them to give their old clothes to people who do not have anything to wear; we protect the girl child from female foeticide and we have Shahi Betiyan Basera here where these daughters of ours are brought up. So who can be the enemy? Someone who does not like these things. Who does not like these things? That is something that you will have to try to find out.

Q. What is the attitude of the Akali government towards you?
A. We have never depended on anyone’s attitude towards us. But if you want to know more about this, you can ask the sadh-sangat of Punjab as to what its attitude towards them is and the truth will come out by itself. They would have a better idea as they live there.

Q. Has the war begun between you and the Sikh community?
A. We have already told you that the Sikh community is seated here and we have always loved them, we still do and we always will. Saints do not go on wars. But they do say with courage that one must give up bad deeds; that one must give up addiction to intoxicants. Today the intoxicants that the grown-ups use, even children are being given those in chocolates and other things. If things continue like this, our country and its coming generations would be drowned in these intoxicants and the society would be in ruins. So saints inspire people to give up badness; and it is not in them to hate anyone. Like the saint Kabir has said:

Wherever saints are, they pray for the good of everyone
They are the friends of all, and they hold grudges against none

So there is no reason for saints to hold grudges against anyone or hate anyone. We have love for everyone and our love is selfless.

Q. The Dera Sacha Sauda-Sikh conflict is being made to look like a Hindu-Sikh conflict by the Dera?
A. We do not watch TV or read newspapers, so it is not clear to us as to whether this is happening or who is doing this or since when this is happening. But if someone is saying this, then there should be some reason. You ought to investigate and try to find out who the people are who are being victimized. From our side there is no such Hindu-Sikh division. Both are the children of God.

Q. What is the reason behind keeping private security guards in spite of Z-Plus security? Do you not trust the government’s security?
A. All security arrangements are taken care of by the management. The management committee decides as to where and what kind of security arrangements need to be made in the ashram. We have nothing to do with this. If your thoughts are as to why saints need security, then the answer to that is that we are a small Fakir. We are your watchman. But history is witness to the fact that those whom we obey today, our saints, our God incarnates, Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, they had their own armies. So if a Fakir has four men standing around him, please do not take it wrongly.

Q. You have been criticized for asking your followers or Premis to vote for a particular party. Was that a folly or the right decision?
A. We have always been saying that we have nothing to do with politics. If someone says that Guruji had told us, then we would surely accept the responsibility. But there is no question of our asking anyone to vote for someone or not vote for someone. The sadh-sangat decides on its own as to whom to vote for.

Q. Why the reluctance to talk openly to the media?
A. No, we have not been avoiding the media. We answer all questions. Some reporters of news channels from Sirsa have come here many times and there is nothing that is being veiled.

Q. How in your opinion can the Dera-Sikh conflict be ended?
A. The same ‘Sikh’ word again! The way you are repeating the word ‘Sikh,’ we don’t like it; because we have no conflict against Sikhs or Sikhism. Those who think there is a conflict, and the representatives of the ashram, should sit at a table and discuss; the media can also take part in the discussion; and the problem should be solved. This is the best way – to sit opposite each other and talk and resolve all problems. On your responsibility you can take with you any representative of the Dera that you want. But it is our prayer to you with folded hands to not to use the word ‘Sikh’ again and again, because the Sikh religion loves us greatly and we too love them.

Q. To what extent is the criminalization and politicization of religion right and where is it leading society?
A. We have never said this. Religion never intimidates anyone. The word Dharma stands for abiding by or conforming to principles. Uniting man with man and uniting man with Allah, Waheguru, Ram. Nowhere in religion is jealousy, hatred or quarrel written.

Neither is a Hindu bad, nor is a Sikh, Muslim or Christian bad.
He who gets down to doing bad deeds, is bad.

So it is our prayer to you with folded hands to not call any religion bad. No religion is bad. We have studied all religions and it is written in all religions that talking ill of others is a great sin that man does in very little time but its effects are felt for a long, long time. So one should not talk ill of anyone. He who talks ill of others is not driven by the Guru but by the mind. Our religions teach unity and not divisiveness. We too desire that everyone abandons bad qualities and meditates on Allah, Ram and receive His abundant grace and blessings.

Q. In your view why is the Sikh community opposing you?
A. We have already answered this question that the Sikh community does not oppose us. Maybe the people who are not happy with evils being eradicated, they are opposing us.

Q. When will the Satsangs at other places begin?
A. If you ask anyone the history of Dera Sacha Sauda for the month of July, you will know that we do not go anywhere during this month. We do go elsewhere for Satsangs before and after July, but due to rains we do not go anywhere during July and August.

Q. How much do you blame yourself for the dress controversy? Do you consider it a mistake on your part?
A. When this controversy started and even now we are saying that we are the servant of servants. A watchman calls out in the night and we call out in broad daylight to people to be on the guard against evils. Far from imitating our revered God incarnates, gurus, and prophets like Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, Shri Ram Ji, Shri Krishna Ji and others, we cannot even imagine doing it. You yourself can see that we do not have those five signs or swords or bow and arrows, etc. We had been wearing these dresses earlier also but no one used to ask us then as to why we were wearing it. So it is up to you to find out how and why the controversy started. We innocent Fakirs do not have the answers to these questions. For us, the gurus and prophets of all religions are the very embodiment of God.

Q. What is the definition of a saint and in today’s age who is a true saint?
A. Even if people talk ill of them or call them infidels, saints always pray for the well-being of all, and they ask God to give everyone good and virtuous thoughts so that everyone can live the life of love and harmony. A true saint is someone who is a worshipper of God, who always talks about God and praises Him, and who earns his own living. A saint practices devotion through work. Because if a saint does not believe in work, how can he ask others to work and strive hard for a living? A saint is someone who is perfect in both devotion through work and devotion through knowledge.

Q. Whatever happened in the court, will you challenge it or what will you do?
A. We have not thought about this. The lawyers might know more about this and you may please talk to them.

Q. Today’s world is filled with jealousy and hatred. There are riots, quarrels and evil everywhere. From spirituality’s point of view, how would you describe today’s world and what would your message be to the world?
A. The present age has been described by religious scriptures as the Kaliyuga or the age of degeneration. There is evil everywhere today. During a time like this the only message for the world is that whatever be your religion, remain in it, read the teachings of your prophets and saints, and live by those teachings and principles.

Q. Why do some people, whatever be their religion, fight or oppose Dera Sacha Sauda even though it does selfless service for the benefit of all?
A. This is something even we do not understand. When flood waters were about to enter Sirsa, the army tried to stop it but they could not. When one of our volunteers told us about this, we took with us around 500-600 people who were here and went there. The then DSP tried to stop us saying that they would not be able to guarantee our safety. But we stood there and repaired the dam. We are not being egotistic about this but it was God who made us do all that. And when the same thing happened again we again helped the people there with the help of five tractors and provided them water to drink and secured their belongings from the flood waters. So, maybe you should show us a way by which we can make the people who are angry with us happy. Our job is to think good about others and pray for their well-being and we will always keep doing that.

Q. Naam Charcha is not being allowed in many places in Punjab. Are you going to appeal about this to the central government?
A. All this is done by the management. All we do is talk of Ram Naam. Naam Charcha stands for singing the praises of Om, Hari, Allah, Waheguru, Ram. When man lives in the world and gets entangled in worldliness, once in seven days Naam Charcha is conducted so that he keeps in touch with God. This custom has been prevalent since 1948. Therefore it is our appeal that Naam Charchas should be allowed and should not be stopped.

Q. Your Ghukanwaali Dera was burnt. The shops of Premis were burnt. What do you have to say about this?
A. This is very sad. Our revered Guru Beparwah Mastana Ji Mahraj had built the ashram in Ghukanwaali. It was in this ashram that Shah Satnam Ji Maharaj received the Naam. So whatever has happened is very sad for us. Maybe they were driven by the mind into doing this. We pray to God to give them good thoughts and that the ashram is rebuilt. About the shops being burnt, we had met someone and he told us that he had even seen the riots of 1947 but those were nothing when compared to the Ghukanwaali riots. Money was looted, wheat was burnt, and the victims had left with them only the clothes that they had been wearing.

Q. The Dera has equal respect for all religions but your seat has the symbols of all religions, so is this not disrespecting them?
A. Waah! What great observation! You have a great eye! How come you did not notice that people from different religions are sitting here together and singing the Ram Naam?! How come you did not notice that our religious books also have these symbols?! The locket that we wear also has these symbols and we wear it close to our heart. How come you did not notice these? Never mind. People do get into these misunderstandings and these need to be rectified. We have never disrespected any religion and neither do we intend to. But since you feel like this, maybe the sewadaars did it unintentionally and I request them to be rectify this in the future.

Q. What is the reason that whenever gurus and saints have come into this world and tried to connect people with God and do good deeds, people have opposed them?
A. Indeed, history is witness to the fact that whenever saints and prophets of God have come into the world, they have been opposed. It is possible that people who are connected with evil, those whose livelihood is from evil, they are doing this. When people quit their bad habits of alcohol, drugs and other intoxicants, the people who trade in these begin to incur losses. Maybe it is these people who have been opposing saints. Otherwise we do not see a reason for the opposition because saints pray for the welfare of all.

Q. Why do Dera Premis resort to violence?
A. As far as we know, this is not true. All they do is talk of and praise Allah, Maalik. The Dera Premis never hurt others.

Q. Please meet with the press once in a fortnight or once in a month. This way we can also have your darshan.
A. We conduct majlis here every morning and evening and you can come whenever you wish to. This is your home. We consider everyone as the children of God and you are most welcome here. It is our prayer to you to take the initiative and inspire people to walk on the path of righteousness. You are one of the pillars of our country. You can help people quit their addictions. It is our prayer to you with folded hands to help people quit their bad ways, to help people give up their addictions. We and the sadh-sangat are always with you. Whenever you wish to campaign against drugs, for hygiene and cleanliness, to plant trees, for blood donation, for eye donation, etc., the sadh-sangat will always be with you.

Q. Is the Dera not becoming an industry?
A. Let us clarify that basically the industry thing began here in the form of spices. When the celibate volunteers of the Dera got spices ground in the city, it was found that many things were being mixed in it and it was being adulterated. The sadh-sangat then decided to build a factory here in order to escape the adulteration. After this a candy factory was begun because it was found that bones were being mixed in the candy from outside. When it was found that there was adulteration in cold drinks, a juice factory was begun. So this is how things began and there is no other business or trade going on here. The ashram does not take any donations or offerings from anyone. There is a team of volunteers here who work for the welfare of mankind under the banner of Shah Satnam Ji Green ‘S’ Welfare Force. They have a welfare fund account in a bank at the Shah Satnam Ji Supermarket complex. The sadh-sangat contributes voluntarily to this account and the treatment of poor patients is done with that money. People also have doubts about the supermarket in front of Shah Satnam Ji Dham. In reality some traders had complained to the government that the shops there sell products at just Re. 1 profit. The DC told them that if that is so then to sell their own products at 50 paise profit! So this is how this controversy began. Otherwise there is no big business going on here.

Q. Why are controversial statements being left for the management?
A. We do not incite people. From 1948 till today you can go over the CDs and cassettes and if you find that we have ever said anything wrong against any religion you can come and tell us that we are inciting people. In reality we teach people not to talk ill of others or hate others. We tell our followers and everyone that you should not say or do anything to incite people. Even now, since you have raised the topic, we are requesting the sadh-sangat and whoever is listening to this to not say or do anything to provoke people. This is a command from us, and we also are giving you our blessings. Our message is that of love and it always will remain so.

Q. The Mulund firing incident, what was it that happened?
A. The police is investigating to find the truth. We only came to know of it in the evening. Because the vehicle in which we travel has thick tinted window panes and double curtains, so nothing is visible from inside. We were told in Mysore that there had been a scuffle and that we had to leave early. We then left for the Bangalore ashram.