Amritsar, September 13
For the first time, the secretary of Takht Patna Sahib has “sacked” Giani Iqbal Singh Jathedar on charges of collecting funds from foreign tours and not depositing these with the management.

However, Giani Iqbal Singh claimed the secretary had no authority to take such decisions as per the service rules of the Takht Management. He also claimed Raja Singh, the Secretary, was removed from his post yesterday .

Jathedar Iqbal Singh said there was a “deep-rooted” conspiracy to create confusion in the Sikh Panth .

Jathedar Iqbal Singh said he had called an emergency meeting of the Management Committee at Patna Sahib on September 15 where complaints against Raja Singh would be taken up .

In another development , three office- bearers of Takht Patna Sahib Management, including M.S.Chhabra , Tejinder Paul Singh , M.S. Dhillon , senior vice- president , Junior vice- president and general secretary, respectively, had “rejected” the decision to remove Giani Iqbal Singh as Jathedar . They said Giani Iqbal Singh would continue to serve as Jathedar Takht Patna Sahib.

Meanwhile, Jathedar Iqbal Singh brought the matter to the notice of Giani Joginder Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht before the latter left for England.