Akal Takht, Damdama Sahib jathedars declared ‘tankhaiya’
The ‘panj pyaras’ of Takht Patna Sahib on Wednesday held temporal heads of the Akal Takht and Damdama Sahib guilty of “religious misconduct” and declared them “tankhaiya”.
They also summoned Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Badal for allegedly meddling in affairs of the Takht Patna Sahib.
Badal has been ordered to appear in person before the “panj pyaras” (Guru’s five beloved ones) within 10 days to present his side, otherwise, he has been warned of stern action in accordance with Sikh tradition.
The move came hours after five Sikh priests, including Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Baba Tek Singh, summoned the entire management panel of the Patna Sahib shrine over "non-compliance" of Akal Takht orders.
The other three priests present in the meeting were Golden Temple granthi Giani Rajdeep Singh, Takht Kesgarh Sahib head granthi Joginder Singh and Akal Takht granthi Giani Gurbakshish Singh.
The Akal Takht — the highest temporal seat for the Sikhs — had earlier barred two Patna Sahib priests Bhai Baldev Singh and Bhai Gurdial Singh from reciting Gurbani over alleged “improper recital”.
At the meeting, a clean chit was also given to Takht Patna Sahib former Jathedar Giani Ranjit Singh Gauhar, whose services were terminated by the management panel of the Patna-based shrine in August 2022 after holding him guilty of “involvement in embezzlement of donations in the form of gold and other items”.
All restrictions on Gauhar were lifted after an “internal investigation cleared him of all allegations of corruption on the basis of fact-finding committee formed by former president of Takht Patna Sahib committee Avtar Singh Hit”.
The decision at the meeting stirred a row as Patna Sahib and Hazur Sahib gurdwaras in Maharashtra’s Nanded are managed by their own management panels. Even their jathedars are appointed and removed by their own panels.
Moreover, the ‘panj pyaras’ , who held the temporal heads guilty of religious misconduct, included Bhai Baldev Singh and Bhai Gurdial Singh.
Takht Patna Sahib management committee president Jagjot Singh Sohi confirmed that the ‘panj pyars’ found Giani Gargaj and Giani Tek Singh guilty of “denting the dignity, code of conduct and sovereignty of Takht Patna Sahib”.
“As a result, they were declared ‘tankhaiya’,” he said.
However, Giani Gauhar said the declaration by the “panj pyaras” holds "no sanctity” as the temporal heads were supreme community leaders who did not come under them.
“Can a grandson question his grandfather? The decision holds no value before the Akal Takht,” he said.
