M A I N   N E W S

Giani Mal Singh installed Golden Temple priest
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 4
Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, SGPC chief, today succeeded in installating Giani Mal Singh as priest of the Golden Temple. The priests of the temple are considered High Priests and are competent to participate in the meetings of Akal Takht. Earlier, he had appointed Giani Puran Singh as Head Granthi, Golden Temple, which had kicked off a controversy in Sikh circles.

It may be mentioned here that in his capacity as Jathedar, Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh, had excommunicated three Sikh High Priests, including Giani Kewal Singh, Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Bhagwan Singh, from the Sikh Panth through a ‘controversial’ edict which was not accepted by them.

Interestingly, immediately after taking over as President, SGPC, Mr Talwandi appointed Giani Puran Singh as Head Granthi, Golden Temple.

Earlier Giani Puran Singh was sacked as Jathedar, Akal Takht and suspended as Granthi Golden Temple by the then SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur.

Though as per the Sikh tradition, it is mandatory that the Head Granthi of the Golden Temple should attend meetings of High Priests, yet he (Giani Puran Singh) refused to sit along with jathedars ‘excommunicated’ by him in his capacity as Jathedar.

The appointment and installation of Giani Mal Singh as priest of the Golden Temple was done against the wishes of Giani Kewal Singh as the former was appointed as Head Granthi, Damdama Sahib, in place of Giani Maan Singh, who had resigned in protest against the organising of ‘path bodh’ by the Damdami Taksal.

Giani Kewal Singh had serious objection to the ‘maryada’ followed by the Damdami Taksal which differed from that of Akal Takht. So much so, Giani Kewal Singh could not present a ‘siropa’ to Giani Mal Singh.

‘Later, at the ceremony at the new jora ghar’ Jathedar Vedanti, Giani Bhagwan Singh and Giani Jagtar Singh, Granthi, Golden Temple, had to take back seat. The ceremony was performed by Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, Giani Puran Singh, Baba Harbans Singh of ‘kar sewa wale’ and two other priests.

It is pertinent to mention here that differences prevailed between Mr Talwandi and the Sikh High Priests, especially Jathedar Vedanti and Giani Kewal Singh, on certain issues. At one time, Mr Talwandi had decided to replace both Jathedars. However, he could not do the same due to intervention of the party high command.

Interestingly, no jathedar figured in the picture released by the publicity branch of the SGPC.

With the installation of Giani Mal Singh, Mr Talwandi succeeded in bringing two confidants as High Priests who are competent to sit at the meetings of Akal Takht. Since Giani Puran Singh is not attending the meetings, he can depute Giani Mal Singh for the same. In this way, Giani Mal Singh can watch the interests of Mr Talwandi.

As it is mandatory to include representative of the Golden Temple at the meetings of Akal Takht, now Giani Mal Singh can give his dissenting note on any decision which goes against Mr Talwandi. It may be mentioned here that earlier Jathedar Vedanti had threatened to summon Mr Talwandi at Akal Takht in case found guilty of presenting ‘siropa’ to Canada-based excommunicated Sikh Kashmira Singh who visited Golden Temple with the then Premier of British Columbia, Mr Ujjal Singh Dosanj. The crucial meeting of High Priests have already been convened at Akal Takht on November 7 which may discuss this issue. On the other hand, Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Kesgarh Sahib, was conspicuous by his absence.

Mann’s aide summoned
Surinder Bhardwaj

Fatehgarh Sahib, November 4
Mr Iqbal Singh Tiwana, political secretary of Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president, SAD(A)-cum-official spokesman of the party, has been summoned by the Jathedar of Akal Takht to appear before the Takht on November 7 for allegedly writing a letter to Baba Bhaniarawala seeking his support for the party.

According to Mr Jaswinder Singh Dhillon, member of the working committee and Sadhu Singh Peerjain, district president of the party, Mr Tiwana would appear before Akal Takht on that day as a humble Sikh along with party workers and leaders.

Party leaders told The Tribune today that Mr Tiwana would be accompanied by a large number of supporters of the party and he would accept gracefully and humbly whatever the tankhah (religious punishment) is awarded to him. They said the workers’ meeting called for November 7 has been postponed due to this development.

Desh Sewak, a Punjabi daily from Chandigarh, has published the letters written by Mr Tiwana to Baba Bhaniarawala, who had been held responsible for the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and removed from the Panth.

While Mr Mann has alleged that the letters bear his forged signatures, Mr Tiwana has admitted writing the letter. He said the party had written to all saints and Babas to extend support to Mr Mann during the elections. He has admitted his fault and desires to face punishment.