Akal Takht summons Bhai Manjit
Singh, Barjindar Singh
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Jan 25 — Giving an edge to the ongoing tussle among Akali leaders, Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh today summoned Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar Sri Kesgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib) Barjindar Singh, Managing Editor of Daily Ajit and Major Singh, Senior Staff Correspondent of Daily Ajit at Akal Takht on February 11.

This is third time in the 392 years history of the Sri Akal Takht which was established by sixth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Hargobind on June 15, 1606 that a Jathedar of any Takht has been summoned at Akal Takht.

Bhai Ranjit Singh already has banned entry of Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar Damdama Sahib to the meetings of high priests. Earlier Giani Teja Singh, Bhuchar, Jathedar Akal Takht, and Giani Man Singh of Patna Sahib were summoned.

While Prof Manjit Singh has been summoned to clarify his position for violating the ‘hukamnama’ issued by Sikh clergy with regard to Guru Ka Langar on April 20, 1998 to which Prof Manjit Singh was a signatory. Bhai Ranjit Singh while reading out the letter addressed to Prof Manjit Singh added that Akal Takht had received a number of complaints from America and Canada that during a seminar held in the USA on January 15, 1999, that Prof Manjit Singh was present where participants spoke against the ‘hukamnama’. He also alleged that Preet Singh Sandhu and Giani Harkirat Singh (both from Canada) who both were excommunicated for defying the ‘hukamnama’ on Guru Ka Langar were also present during the seminar. He clarified that Prof Manjit Singh was summoned on the basis of "concrete evidence received by him".

Bhai Ranjit Singh, who had a four and half hour-long meeting with other high priests held at Akal Takht also sought clarification from Prof Manjit Singh about his Gurmat Sagar Trust. The Jathedar pointed out that Akal Takht had received numerous complaints about the trust being his personal property as he had been collecting donations for the trust by "misusing" his position. He added that a British resident of Indian origin, Mr Bhag Singh had donated his 11-acre piece of valuable land located in Nawanshahr district during the year 1996-97 and alleged that the plot had been taken over by Prof Manjit Singh which actually was meant to be used for tercentenary celebrations of Khalsa and sought personal appearance of Prof Manjit Singh with all evidence at Akal Takht on February 11, 1999. In case they fail to appear before Akal Takht on the stipulated date suitable action would be taken as per Sikh traditions. In the annals of Sikhism and history of Akal Takht it was second time that an Editor of major Punjabi daily, the Ajit, Barjindar Singh along with his senior staff correspondent Major Singh had been summoned at Akal Takht on February 11. Earlier Mr Tara Singh Hayer (later killed) Editor, Indo-Canadian Times published from Canada was excommunicated along with Giani Harkeerat Singh and others of Vancouver for defying the ‘hukamnama’ on Guru Ka Langar in Canada. Bhai Ranjit Singh had asked Barjindar Singh to clarify his position with regard to the publication of excerpts from the banned book "Vanity Incarnate", carrying objectionable remarks against Sikh Gurus and their families written by Harinder Singh of Mohali. Bhai Ranjit Singh claimed that he had received a number of complaints from the SGPC, the Sant Samaj and others.

Like late Tara Singh Hayer, Editor, Indo-Canadian Times, Barjindar Singh too earned wrath of Akal Takht Jathedar for his editorial comments and news items. Reading out the contents of the letter sent to Barjindar Singh the Jathedar has asked to bring all proofs of evidence about printing portions of the banned book "Vanity Incarnate" in Daily Ajit dated December 29 last year at Akal Takht on February 11 personally. The letter added that in case Barjindar Singh failed to appear on that date suitable action in accordance with the Sikh tenets would be taken.

In another significant development in Sikh clergy has sought personal clarification from all 131 members of the SGPC, who had sent letters asking Bhai Ranjit Singh to withdraw the 'hukamnama' dated December 31, restraining both feuding Akali factions till April 15. Bhai Ranjit Singh had already stated that he treated these letters as a threat to Akal Takht. Jathedar has sent individual letters to all 131 members to clarify their respective positions whether they got prior approval of SAD president Parkash Singh Badal before signing these letters. Bhai Ranjit Singh showed to reporters that these letters were faxed from the Chief Minister's residence at Chandigarh. Though they belonged to 17 different districts. All 17 letters in original signed by the members were received by Akal Takht through speedpost from the SGPC suboffice at Chandigarh. He claimed that he had received as many as 20 letters from the SGPC members.

Disassociating themselves from the joint representation, the identically drafted letters pertaining to the SGPC members belonging to each of the 17 districts asking the Jathedar not to meddle with the personal affairs of feuding Akali stalwarts and to withdraw the 'Hukamnama', the Jathedar has asked them to send their individual letters giving clarification about having personally signed the letters and confirming the contents therein up to February 11 by fax, by post or delivering personally at Akal Takht.

In an another decision the firm of Bhai Jiwan Singh Chattar Singh, who already stand excommunicated for selling the holy pages of Guru Granth Sahib as scrap in May last year had once again been warned by high priests to stop printing Granth Sahib. They had been asked to appear at Akal Takht on February 11 clarifying their position with regard to defying the earlier decision of high priests.

The high priests also directed the president of the SGPC Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra to suitably amend the recently published SGPC calendar with changed dates of Gurpurbs which had created confusion. Bhai Ranjit Singh added that he had received complaints about the new calendar from the Sant Samaj and the Delhi Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. He asked the SGPC to get new calendar printed and withdraw the old one.