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Bibi summoned to Akal Takht today
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, March 11 — Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Puran Singh has summoned SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur to appear at Akal Takht tomorrow to seek an apology for violating his directives with regard to implementing the ‘controversial’ Nanakshahi calendar. She was excommunicated from the Sikh Panth by a Hukamnama issued by the Akal Takht Jathedar from Guna (Madhya Pradesh) on January 25.

Mr Harjit Singh, Assistant Secretary, SGPC, and personal assistant to Bibi Jagir Kaur, has left for Begowal (Kapurthala) for delivering the letter of Giani Puran Singh. However, Bibi Jagir Kaur could not be contacted.

After accepting the formal request of Bibi Jagir Kaur that she was ready to appear at Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh has summoned her at 11 a.m. at the Takht where she would be given “tankhah” (punishment for religious misconduct) which would pave the way for her rejoining in the Sikh Panth. Both Bibi Jagir Kaur and Giani Puran Singh softened their respective stands on the ‘maryada’ (Sikh tradition) due to the efforts of Mr Avtar Singh Hit, President, Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi), and Dr Jasbir Singh Jassi, former Director, Health Services.

They held long parleys with all concerned to bring the rapprochement and were assisted by Mr Manjit Singh Taran Tarni, former Secretary, SGPC. Before holding the meeting with Giani Puran Singh which lasted till late night, emissaries of Mr Badal persuaded Bibi Jagir Kaur to accept the supremacy of Akal Takht. Bibi Jagir Kaur reluctantly admitted to appear at Akal Takht her own terms. She reportedly made her stand clear that she would not appear before the four Jathedars who were with Giani Puran Singh while issuing the hukamnama. On the other hand, Giani Puran Singh, who was not ready to include Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Mohan Singh, Giani Charan Singh, Giani Bhagwan Singh and Giani Gurbachan Singh in the proposed meeting of the five Sikh high priests on the plea that they had challenged the validity of the hukamnama, today agreed to their participation.

Interestingly, Bibi Jagir Kaur had rejected the hukamnama from the day one when she was excommunicated from the Sikh Panth. She had held informal meetings with the SGPC executive members at Teja Singh Samundri Hall on January 26, a day after the issuance of the edict where she had stated that she could not accept the directive which was released from a PCO. Giani Kewal Singh, Giani Mohan Singh, Giani Bhagwan Singh, Giani Charan Singh and Giani Gurbachan Singh had also supported Bibi Jagir Kaur by virtually rejecting the hukamnama. The five Sikh high priests had said that Giani Puran Singh had violated the Sikh maryada by issuing hukamnama from a place other than Akal Takht. Many Akali leaders, including Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and SGPC executive members had also virtually violated the hukamnama by allowing Bibi Jagir Kaur to attend the delegate session of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on March 3. Perturbed over this development, Giani Puran Singh had to issue another directive which warned the Akali leadership against allowing Bibi Jagir Kaur to participate in any social, political and religious gathering.