Ranjit Singh sticks to stand, Takht
to hold parallel celebrations
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Nov 17 — Bhai Ranjit Singh, Akal Takht chief, and the Sant Samaj have decided to hold tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth on their own, persuasion by the state government notwithstanding.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Bhai Ranjit Singh said this decision had been taken at a meeting of the Sant Samaj here today.

He denied he had promised Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, to re-consider his decision in this regard. He alleged except for the "routine invitation", he had not received any "special" from organisers of the celebrations. He said Akal Takht and the Sant Samaj would celebrate the tercentenary in the "most befitting manner in accordance with Sikh traditions".

Capt Kanwaljit Singh had a chance meeting with the Akal Takht chief at Anandpur Sahib yesterday. The former had claimed that Bhai Ranjit Singh had promised to re-consider his decision on participation in the tercentenary celebrations to be inaugurated on November 22 at Anandpur Sahib.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh had extended invitation to Bhai Ranjit Singh for ensuring his participation.

Bhai Ranjit Singh said that he had asked Capt Kanwaljit Singh to bring the entire master plan of the Anandpur Sahib project for a detailed discussion by the Sant Samaj and other Sikh organisations so that "defects", if any, were removed.

Bhai Ranjit Singh said that Akal Takht and the Sant Samaj would organise a procession on December 4 at Anandpur Sahib which would end at Gurdwara Jyoti Sarup on December 6.