Sant Samaj seeks resignation of Akal Takht Jathedar

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 28

The Sant Samaj, which used to support every decision on religious issues by Jathedars of Takhts and used to give unconditional support to the Shiromani Akali Dal on political issues, for the first time opposed the decision of Takht today. Several Sikh saints gathered at a local gurdwara and demanded the resignation of Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh.

Sant Samaj members, led by Harnam Singh Dhuma, chief, Damdami Taksal, asked the Akal Takht Jathedar to reconsider the decision on Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. The Sant Samaj demanded the withdrawal of the decision.

“If the Jathedar can’t represent the Sikh tradition while taking a decision on such issues, he has to leave the post,” said Dhuma.

“The decision of the Jathedar does not represent the feelings of Sikhs. The Sikh Sangat resisted the decision. Such decisions are a blot on the image of the Akal Takht. The Jathedar should call Sikhs to the Akal Takht for a collective decision. Three Sikhs have sacrificed their lives while obeying the earlier hukamnama in 2007.”

A large number of saints and office bearers of various Sikh bodies attended the meeting.

Sikh outfits reject dera’s offer to drop cases

Amritsar: Up in arms against the Sikh clergy’s decision to pardon the Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Sikh organisations have rejected the dera’s move to drop cases against Sikhs while maintaining that the decision be withdrawn.

Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh said the dera move to withdraw cases against Sikhs was nothing but a “political gimmick” aimed at widening the rift between the Akal Takht and Sikhs. He termed it as the dera’s “attempt to prove itself more obedient” to the Akal Takht while stating that the Sikhs should not fall prey to this trap. Sangharsh Committee convener Gurdeep Singh Bathinda said the offer made by the dera to drop cases against Sikhs was not acceptable to them. “It proves that these cases were registered at the Dera’s behest and now they will be withdrawn again at their behest. It also shows that the Dera has more influence on the state government as compared to Sikh outfits,” he alleged.

United Akali Dal president Bhai Mohkam Singh said said they had given a call for statewide bandh on September 30 to protest the government’s intervention in religious affairs.