Chief Khalsa Diwan nominations under Akal Takht scanner

GS Paul

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 1

The recent move of nominating fresh members into its fold by the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) has come under scanner if the Akal Takht directions is any indication.

Taking note of number of complaints received at Akal Takht secretariat about ‘patit’ (Sikhs with shorn hair and trimmed beard) persons being included in the CKD, Giani Harpreet Singh, acting jathedar of Akal Takht, had put a blanket ban on fresh appointments in the body.

The jathedar had also called up CKD management to submit the requisite declaration forms, mandatory to be furnished by the candidate before seeking membership. He said that the president of CKD had committed to furnish it, but in vain.

“Till the eligibility declaration forms of all members reach the Akal Takht, CKD has been directed that no new appointments could be made”, said the jathedar.

Nonetheless, before these directions could deliver, the CKD had inducted approximately 60 new members against the vacant positions during an online executive and general body meeting held on Tuesday.

CKD president Nirmal Singh told that he could not attend the meeting due to domestic exigency, but assured that he would personally meet the jathedar to clarify it at the earliest. He said that a dedicated panel was always there, which ensure that every member should comply the laid down criteria and only the Gursikh should be included in the body.

CKD vice-president Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, who had conducted the session, told that it was a communication gap due to which jathedar’s directions could not be delivered on time.

“It was an online meeting already scheduled two weeks ago. We were all on Zoom portal and my phone remained occupied. I was not aware of Akal Takht’s directions till the culmination of meeting. We are devoted to the Akal Takht and would approach jathedar soon to explain every query”, he said.