Giani Kewal Singh may quit
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Nov 17 — Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), today indicated that Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Damdama Sahib, may resign shortly in wake of a criminal case registered against him at Talwandi Sabo.

"Gianiji has assured me that he would maintain maryada of the Takht at all costs", Bibi Jagir Kaur said, adding that the three-member committee constituted by the SGPC executive on February 10 to probe "charges" against Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Sri Kesgarh Sahib, and Giani Kewal Singh would submit its report soon. Mr Balbir Singh Nushehra Pannua, Senior Vice-President, and Mr Mal Singh Ghuman, executive member, SGPC, are the members of the inquiry committee.

It may be mentioned here that the inquiry committee was constituted at the time when Bhai Ranjit Singh, the then Jathedar, Akal Takht, was placed under suspension.

It is pertinent to mention here that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Giani Kewal Singh and Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht, had held a closed door meeting at the latter's residence here two days ago to discuss the registration of the case against Giani Kewal Singh.

Replying to a question, Bibi Jagir Kaur reiterated that the SGPC won't sent a jatha to Pakistan till the Pakistan Government disbanded the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PGPC). She said the PGPC, headed by a former chief of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI), had captured the management of the Sikh shrines in Pakistan. She, however, failed to give satisfactory answer whether the SGPC had any legal authority to control the management of gurdwaras in foreign countries.

Bibi Jagir Kaur said she had urged Mr Badal to take up the issue of the PGPC with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. She said the issue would be discussed with Mr Vajpayee during his proposed visit to Jalandhar on November 21.

The SGPC chief said one of the two votes rejected at the annual elections of the SGPC chief was that of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

Bibi Jagir Kaur said the SGPC had decided to send a wagon of foodgrains and other material every week to cyclone-hit Orissa. Apart from this, about 100 employees, including 50 "langris" (cooks) would be sent there. The SGPC would organise daily langars in Orissa, she informed.

The SGPC chief alleged that there were numerous financial and other irregularities in the SGPC-run Guru Ram Dass Dental Hospital here. She alleged a number of employees were recruited without any purpose during the tenure of Mr Tohra as the SGPC chief.

The next meeting of the SGPC has been fixed for November 24.

Bibi Jagir Kaur also held a meeting of managers of historical gurdwaras and asked them to make appropriate arrangement of langar for the devotees.