Amid sacking row, SAD reaches out to Head Granthi

Amid resentment among a section of senior Shiromani Akali leaders (SAD) against the removal of Akal Takht Jathedars, the party’s general secretary, Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, met Giani Raghbir Singh, who was sacked two days ago by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) as the Jathedar, on Sunday.

Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, who is also the Panthic advisory board member of the SAD, said the purpose of meeting Giani Raghbir Singh was to discuss and find a way forward to resolve the existing Panthic upheaval.

He said Giani Raghbir Singh, who still held the coveted charge as the ‘Head Granthi’ of the Golden Temple, was urged to take initiative to call up the Sikh institution representatives and the splinter groups on one platform in the interest of Panth.

“It is apparently for the first time in history that the three Sikh institutions — the SAD, SGPC and Akal Takht — were devoid of regular heads at the same time. The need of the hour was to be united. The ‘Singh Saheb’ (Giani Raghbir Singh) was equally concerned and assured to initiate a move to diffuse the critical situation,” he said.

On the SGPC’s decision to dismiss Jathedars, he said, “The SGPC executive could be asked to review its decision.”

Several SAD leaders, including former minister Bikram Singh Majithia, had expressed disagreement with the SGPC’s decision.

Reacting over the development, Giani Raghbir Singh said whatever happened would have adverse repercussion on the dignity and authority of the Sikh institutions.

On the other hand, the ‘Panj Pyaras’ of Akal Takht — Satnam Singh Khanda, Major Singh, Satnam Singh, Tarlok Singh and Sukhvinder Singh — who were sacked by the SGPC in 2015 for opposing pardon granted to controversial Dera Sirsa cult, accused the SGPC of still playing in the hands of its political bosses.

They appealed the representatives of Panthic organisations to desist from participating in the SGPC’s customary programme of ‘dastar bandi’ of newly appointed Jathedars. “This was an apt way to lodge their protest against the SGPC’s decision of unceremonious removal of Jathedars,” said Satnam Singh Khanda.

Nihangs to oppose installation ceremony of new Jathedar

Strongly opposing the SGPC’s move to dismiss the services of Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Sultan Singh as Jathedars of the Akal Takht and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, respectively, Nihangs have threatened to disrupt the installation ceremony of the new Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj, scheduled at Sri Anandpur Sahib on Monday

Giani Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj has also been entrusted with the ‘additional’ charge of the Akal Takht, till a regular Jathedar is appointed

Asking the SGPC to withdraw its decision, Budha Dal leader Baba Balbir Singh said various other organisations such as Tarna Dal were also taken in confidence to scuttle the installation ceremony being organised by the SGPC at Sri Anandpur Sahib