SGPC president calls on Akal Takht Jathedar ahead of key SAD meeting

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on Thursday, a day ahead of the Shiromani Akali Dal working committee meeting to decide on party chief Sukhbir Badal’s resignation.

The closed-door meeting came a day after a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) delegation met the Jathedar, explaining to him the legal implications of implementing the Akal Takht’s December 2 edict.

The Akal Takht — the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs — had held SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and several senior party leaders guilty of religious misconduct over issues concerning the community during the party’s 10-year rule in Punjab.

It had asked the SAD working committee to accept Sukhbir Singh Badal’s resignation as the party chief and initiate a membership drive to reorganise the outfit, a key demand raised by a group of rebel Akalis.

The Akal Takht Jathedar refrained from commenting over his meeting with the SGPC chief and the SAD delegation, days after he asked the SAD to “follow in toto” the Akal Takht edict.

Dhami, who heads a seven-member panel constituted by the Akal Takht to reorganise the party through a six-month membership drive, also termed the meeting a “routine” affair.

“Since Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh also serves as the head granthi of the Golden Temple, I met him to discuss some administrative issues. This meeting should not be misinterpreted. I rule out all speculations,” he added.

Meanwhile, speculations have been rife about what transpired at the meeting as it came at a juncture when the SAD has announced to decide on Badal’s resignation tomorrow and initiate the process to reorganise the party.

However, the SAD has so far maintained that it is registered as a secular party with the Election Commission of India and cannot take directions from a religious body as it may lead to de-recognition.

Earlier, the Akal Takht Jathedar had condemned the SGPC for initiating an inquiry against Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpeet Singh, whose services were temporarily suspended over allegations concerning a domestic dispute.

“It was a violation of Akal Takht’s jurisdiction. Only the Akal Takht possesses the power of probing allegations against the Takht Jathedar, not the SGPC. The inquiry has to be handed over to the Akal Takht. I have already expressed my displeasure with the SGPC on this issue,” he had said.