SGPC chief condoles death of Jathedar Vedanti

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 16

To console the family members on the demise of former Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur visited his residence on Sunday.

The funeral ceremony would be held on May 18, confirmed Jagbir Singh, a family member of Vedanti while citing reason that Vedanti’s daughter was to come from Denmark, but got stuck up due to flight delay. “As she will come tomorrow evening, the final rites would be held on May 18”, he said.

Bibi Jagir Kaur shared her grief with Bibi Harbhajan Kaur, wife of Jathedar Vedanti and recalled the Panthic services of the former Jathedar.

Meanwhile, Giani Jagtar Singh, head granthi of Golden Temple also offered his condolences to the family of the deceased and prayed for the departed soul. Many Panthic dignitaries reached the residence of Jathedar Vedanti, including SGPC senior-vice president Surjit Singh Bhitewad, member Bhai Manjit Singh Bhurakohna, Bhai Ajaib Singh Abhayasi, Bhai Ram Singh Damdami Taksal, Akali leader Talbir Singh Gill, Prof Waryam Singh, Inderjit Singh Gogoani, Giani Ravel Singh, SGPC additional secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhurakohna, assistant secretary Sakatar Singh, manager Golden Temple Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, and OSD to SGPC president Dr Sukhbir Singh.

Meanwhile, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and patron of All India Sikh Students Federation Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad too expressed deep sorrow. “He was highly respected personality among the Sikhs and his untimely demise had created a vacuum in the Sikh Panth. We express our heartiest condolences to the aggrieved family and stand by it. Nobody can forget the great contribution of Vedanti in the history of the Sikhism,” Brahmpura said. Peer Mohammad also informed that Jathedar Vedanti had termed the ‘1984 Sikh riots’ as not just riots but ‘genocide of Sikhs’ after accepting the request of All India Sikh Students Federation.

Chief Khalsa Diwan president Nirmal Singh said Jathedar Vedanti served as head priest of the Golden Temple and was teaching religious studies lessons to scholars of GNDU.

Damdami Taksal head Giani Harnam Singh Khalsa said: “Jathedar Vedanti had grammatical knowledge of Gurbani. His demise was an irreparable loss to the Sikh panth”, he said. Jathedar Vedanti occupied the highest temporal seat of Akal Takht between 2000-2008.