Jathedars' tussle: Tohra sends emissary
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Aug 27 — While the SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, has appealed to the warring jathedars to maintain truce in the larger interests of the Panth, his special emissary, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra met Akal Takht chief, Bhai Ranjit Singh, to elicit his views to resolve the differences.

According to reliable sources, Mr Chandumajra sought Bhai Ranjit Singh's views on how to resolve the matter. He reportedly urged the jathedar not to rush to the Press.

Mr Chandumajra is likely to see Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh, jathedars of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, shortly.

Mr Chandumajra refused to divulge details of the meeting. He, however, expressed the confidence that the matter would be resolved amicably soon after the return of Mr Tohra from his Maharashtra tour next week.

When contacted, Bhai Ranjit Singh, denied that Mr Chandumajra discussed the matter with him during their brief meeting in the Golden Temple complex.

On Mr Tohra's appeal that the high priests should not rush to the Press and resolve their differences by holding negotiations among themselves, Bhai Ranjit Singh said he would not go to the Press on this matter. However, if the other did, he would clarify his position.

Denying that he ever used rude language with his colleagues, he said Giani Mohan Singh and Giani Bhagwan Singh, the other high priests never complained about it.

About bashing of certain leaders from Jammu last year, he said they had been raising provocative slogans on the ground floor of Akal Takht, and thereafter rushed to the top floor with a view to "assault" the five high priests. "I would not allow anybody to violate the sanctity and maryada of Akal Takht".

Meanwhile, Bhai Kanwer Singh Dhami, chairman, human rights wing of the Akali Dal (Amritsar), appealed to all Sikh religious and political organisations to make efforts to defuse the situation. He demanded the convening of a "sarbat Khalsa" convention at Akal Takht to adopt "gurmata" for resolving sensitive matters.

He said he had met Bhai Ranjit Singh at the latter's residence last evening. The meeting was held in very cordial atmosphere. He would soon meet other jathedars to know their views. Mr Tohra should take the initiative to resolve the matter amicably at the earliest.