‘Parallel’ clergy punishes gurdwara trust president

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 12

The “parallel” Jathedars today awarded tankhah (religious punishment) to Master Johar Singh, president of Chhota Ghallughara Gurdwara Management Trust at Qadian (Gurdaspur), under whose charge “immoral activities” were witnessed on the gurdwara premises.

Taking cognisance of the August 11 incident, the 2015 Sarbat Khalsa-appointed Akal Takht “acting Jathedar” Dhyan Singh Mand and Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Baljit Singh Daduwal removed Master Johar Singh from the post and held that the trust will look after the administration of the gurdwara in his absence.

Mand said a three-member committee had held Master Johar Singh guilty of failing to preserve the maryada of the gurdwara. He was directed to perform sewa at Golden Temple for seven days.

Master Johar Singh said he would undergo the directions from tomorrow morning.

Johar has also been summoned by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh on the same issue tomorrow, but said “considering the humiliation I had to face on the directions of the SGPC in the Golden Temple complex, I would never appear before Jathedars led by Giani Gurbachan Singh”.

Bibi Jagir Kaur summoned too

The “parallel” Jathedars have also summoned former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur to appear at the Akal Takht on November 7 following “many written complaints against her”.

Though acquitted of the charge of killing her daughter, she was convicted by the CBI court for conspiring in forcible abduction, kidnapping and wrongful confinement. She has been out on bail since 2012.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira has reminded Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh of the matter through a letter seeking “excommunication” for Bibi Jagir Kaur.