Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Iqbal Singh resigns, takes U-turn hours later

G.S. Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 3

Hours after submitting his resignation on Sunday, Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh, who faced controversy due to his marital ties and violating Sikh Rehat Maryada (tenets), took a U-turn hours later. 

While Takht Patna Sahib Management Board president Avtar Singh Hit told that the resignation has been accepted and the process is on to appoint an officiating Jathedar in the board meeting scheduled tentatively for March 5, Iqbal Singh claimed that he had withdrawn his resignation on the instance of the ‘Sangat’ of Patna Sahib. 

Iqbal Singh said he had handed over his resignation and keys of the Takht to the general secretary of board Mahinder Pal Singh Dhillon, who refused to accept it. “Later, ‘sangat’ gathered over there and insisted me to continue. After appointing ‘panj pyaras’ (five beloved ones) among them, the general secretary handed me back the keys and asked me to continue as Jathedar of Sikh temporal seat.”

The general secretary has also posted an audio of his statement to confirm that Iqbal Singh would continue his services as Takht Patna Sahib jathedar.

In his resignation letter (the copy of which is with The Tribune), he negated all the allegations while terming them as ‘politically motivated’. He had written that he has served the Takht Sri Harminder Ji, Patna Sahib, for the past 35 years and with the blessings of ‘Satguru’ he has been propagating Sikhism, yet some religious and political section felt jealous of him and implicated him in false and frivolous controversies to demean him. 

Iqbal Singh said he had tried to submit his clarification numerous times to prove his innocence but some elements were bent on humiliating him. Keeping in view the sanctity of Takht Patna Sahib and without any provocation and pressure, he has submitted his resignation. 

Nonetheless, several complaints pertaining to his behaviour and marital status had been received from various Sikh organisations. Polygamous Jathedar remained in news for his alleged misconduct on number of occasions. He also invited criticism from the Sikh community for openly attending the events organised by the RSS and observing the Gurpurbs in contrary to the schedule set by the Akal Takht.

On February 3, his second wife Baljeet Kaur had approached Akal Takht seeking action against him while levelling charges of cheating and domestic violence. In a written complaint, she revealed that Iqbal Singh had married her in 2003 on false pretext that his first wife had passed away.

Recently, Iqbal Singh found himself in soup when a video went viral in which his son Gurparsad Singh was seen puffing and drinking alcohol. Though, later Giani Iqbal Singh claimed to disown him for violating the Sikh ethics. Gurparsad, who was accountant at the Takht, was dismissed from service by the board. 

All these issues were to be discussed with the five high priests before taking a final call on him.

While cautioning Iqbal Singh to stay away from participating in any panthic activity, the Akal Takht’s acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had constituted a seven-member committee to probe the allegations levelled against him. 

It has been learnt that the committee has submitted its report to the Akal Takht late evening. Harpreet Singh had stated that on the basis of this report the five high priests will take a decision in the next meeting.