Parallel ‘Jathedars’ to open office near Golden Temple

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 15

Amid tight security, the three ‘Jathedars’ appointed by ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ last year paid obeisance at Akal Takht today.

They are acting Akal Takht ‘Jathedar’ Dhian Singh Mand, Takht Kesgarh ‘Jathedar’ Amrik Singh Ajnala and Takht Damdama Sahib ‘Jathedar’ Baljit Singh Daduwal.

They formally announced the setting up of an office in the vicinity of the Golden Temple.

Though Mand did not elaborate on the location and working profile of the office, he categorically stated that it would attend to the religious problems being faced by the Sikhs. He hoped that the attempt would once again restore the golden era of the Khalsa Panth.

He accused the government of adopting a posture of confrontation despite the announcement that their movement was purely peaceful and religious.

He said the authorities tried to prevent them from reaching the Golden Temple and even after arriving here, they had to jostle to pay obeisance.

Mand stated that they would return to the Akal Takht to carry out religious obligations to be held to commemorate the victims killed during the Bluestar Operation on June 6.

Earlier, all three ‘Jathedars’ paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple and did ‘ardas’ at Akal Takht. Mohkam Singh presented them with siropas. They also listened to Dhadhi Jathas.

When questioned over the move of the ‘Jathedars’, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh refused to comment. He said it fell in the jurisdiction of the SGPC. He, however, stated that the entire Sikh sangat knew who the real Jathedars were.