SGPC to meet on Oct 22 over Akal Takht Jathedar''s resignation

GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 19

Adhering to the 72-hour notice period, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has called an emergency meeting on October 22 to deliberate on the circumstances following the resignation of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh.

SGPC spokesperson Diljit Singh Bedi said the resignation was received this morning in a sealed envelope addressed to SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal.

In an unsigned statement, the Jathedar sought an apology from the Sikh Panth for exonerating Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015, against whom the Akal Takht had issued an edict for imitating Guru Gobind Singh in 2007.

Citing a couplet from Gurbani implying “to err is human”, he stated, “The decision of pardoning the Dera head was withdrawn while taking into account the sentiments of the Panth. While performing sewa for a decade at this position, I might have committed mistakes, for which I seek apology from the Panth.”

Giani Gurbachan Singh, who had joined the SGPC as a sewadar in 1972 in Muktsar, was promoted as Head Granthi at Golden Temple, before replacing Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti as Akal Takht Jathedar on August 7, 2008.

If the SGPC accepts his resignation, it would be mandatory to appoint an officiating Jathedar, before a regular candidate. The choices could be among Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, Golden Temple’s additional head priest Giani Jagtar Singh and Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib head priest Giani Harpal Singh.