Bhai Ranjit’s sack tomorrow
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, March 17 — In all probability, Bhai Ranjit Singh, who was placed under suspension as Jathedar of Akal Takht by the pro-Badal executive on February 10, will be sacked in the first executive meeting of the SGPC headed by Bibi Jagir Kaur, on March 19. However, some members may plead for giving a week's time to the suspended Jathedar to clarify his position, even though the deadline for submitting the explanation was over on March 11.

Apart from this, the proposed executive will confirm the appointment of Giani Puran Singh, who was appointed acting Jathedar of Akal Takht in place of Bhai Ranjit Singh. On the other hand, the possession of Akal Takht Secretariat is still with Bhai Ranjit Singh while the new executive has already formally taken the possession of records and offices of the SGPC.

Meanwhile, the new president of the SGPC, Bibi Jagir Kaur, held an important meeting with the Chief Minister and SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at the residence of the latter at Chandigarh. Both leaders discussed important issues during the meeting. Though sources did not divulge the details, yet it is assumed that they discussed the agenda items for the proposed executive meeting on March 19.

Interestingly, photographs of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who was removed as president of the SGPC by passing a no-confidence motion against him yesterday, were removed from the offices of the SGPC today. The photograph of Mr Tohra was first removed from the information office of the Golden Temple where VVIPs used to visit before and after paying their obeisance at the "sanctum sanctorum". The photographs of Mr Tohra had adorned the SGPC office since 1973, when he was first elected president of the SGPC — known as Parliament for the Sikhs all over the world.

In yet another significant development, Mr Hardilbir Singh Shah, newly elected general secretary of the SGPC, has announced that the general house meeting of March 22, called by Mr Tohra, would be cancelled as it had no relevance when he had been removed from the presidentship.

Mr Kulwant Singh, additional secretary of the committee who was retired following verbal orders from Mr Tohra arbitrarily, said he had got stay orders by the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission.