Jhinda confronts SGPC, seeks policy on Jathedars

AMRITSAR: Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC, ad hoc) president Jagdish Singh Jhinda today served an ultimatum on the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), seeking the framing of a policy on the appointment, removal and service rules of Takht Jathedars.

Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Jagdish Jhinda (right) in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 26

Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC, ad hoc) president Jagdish Singh Jhinda today served an ultimatum on the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), seeking the framing of a policy on the appointment, removal and service rules of Takht Jathedars.

Jhinda, along with representatives of 21 Sikh organisations belonging to Haryana, performed an ‘ardas’ at the Akal Takht to launch a campaign against the apex Sikh body.

He warned that if the SGPC failed to lay down the norms within a month, an agitation would be initiated by the Haryana Sikhs.

“We want to free the Takhts of political interference,” he said.

The SGPC had constituted a panel in January 2015 to frame rules governing the appointment, jurisdiction and removal of the Takht Jathedars. The panel, which has met just once so far, has been lying defunct. The need to form an expert panel was felt after the 'politically motivated' dismissal of the then Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh, who had favoured the original Nanakshahi calendar.

Won't allow land grab: Badungar

Talwandi Sabo: SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar said here on Friday that illegal possession of SGPC land would not be allowed at any cost. Badungar was at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib to meet SGPC members of Malwa. Some people, under the influence of the Congress government, are trying to encroach upon land of historic gurdwaras, including those in Bhai Rupa and Maur Kalan (Bathinda), the SGPC said. TNS