SGPC chief Dhami: Need advisory panel to prevent disputes among Takhts

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday suggested the formation of an advisory panel for the Akal Takht to prevent differences among Sikh temporal seats.

Dhami said the panel should also be tasked with resolving complaints concerning the Sikh community, which were now being handled by Dharam Prachar committees.

Dhami made the remarks addressing reporters after an SGPC meeting, which was called to deliberate on the working of five Sikh Takhts.

The move had come amid efforts to defuse tensions between the Akal Takht — the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs — and Takht Patna Sahib following a face-off over a religious punishment to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The differences were later resolved and it was unanimous decided that the final authority over religious and communal matters wrested with the Akal Takht.

Dhami recalled that in the last general house meeting of the SGPC, a resolution was placed to form an advisory panel for the Akal Takht.

Talking about a resolution passed by the SGPC general house today, Dhami said all members urged the Jathedars to uphold the Sikh traditions. He said Panthic issues must be resolved at the Akal Takht and no interference should be made in matters of the other Takhts.

On giving permission to an Akal Takht-constituted panel to hold polls to elect the SAD president at the Sikh body’s headquarters here on August 11, Dhami said their letter seeking the nod had been forwarded to the temporal seat.

On this, Bibi Jagir Kaur, former SGPC president, said the authority to take decision wrested with the SGPC.

She added that it showed the kind of pressure being exerted on Dhami, who was not able to take a call on the issue. On the validity of the Akal Takht panel, she said it continued to be a legitimate body even after its two members had resigned.

The decision to hold the polls by the panel had put the SAD-dominated SGPC in a fix as it did not want to be seen defying the Takht decree.

The panel, including rebel Akali leaders, was constituted by the temporal seat through an edict issued on December 2 last year. The SAD had rejected it and carried out its own membership drive. Later, the SAD re-elected Sukhbir Badal as its chief in organisational polls held in April.