Removal of Takht Jathedars: Sikh outfits to take out protest march against SGPC tomorrow

Sikh organisations will stage a protest against the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee over the sacking of Takht Jathedars on March 28, the day the Sikh body is scheduled to hold its general house meeting to announce the budget for next year.

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Activists of the Damdami Taksal — a Sikh seminary that which was once led by Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale — members of the Sant Samaj and Nihangs will take out the protest march from the Golden Gate to the SGPC head office.

The Sikh outfits are up in arms against the SGPC over the alleged 'arbitrary' removal of Takht Jathedars and demanded their reinstatement. On Tuesday, 42 members of the SGPC had submitted a joint representation at the SGPC office, seeking revocation of the decision removing the temporal heads.

In view of the growing resentment, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami had announced to frame norms for securing the jurisdiction, appointment and retirement of Takht Jathedars.

Sukhdev Singh, chief spokesperson of Damdami Taksal, said they would hold a protest march in a peaceful manner.

On March 7, the SGPC executive had appointed Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj as the Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib with an additional charge of the Akal Takht in Amritsar as its “acting Jathedar”. The appointment was made after removing Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Sultan Singh as the Jathedars of Akal Takht and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, respectively.

Baba Tek Singh Dhanaula was appointed as the Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo. The seat had become vacant after the SGPC removed Giani Harpreet Singh as the Jathedar.