Subcommittee to seek WSC accounts
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 1 — As a first step toward crisis management involving the World Sikh Council, a joint meeting of the "old" and "new" members was held at Sri Kalgidhar Niwas here.

Made possible by withdrawal of a suit filed in the high court by Mr Shamsher Singh Maloya, the council passed a resolution authorising the SGPC president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, to constitute a sub-committee which will seek all relevant record pertaining to the World Sikh Council, including statement of accounts etc. The meeting fixed October 12 by which the committee is to submit its report.

The meeting with certain technical, constitutional and legal hurdles out of the way fully establishes Justice Kuldip Singh (retd) as the president, who, while addressing the meeting asserted that in the larger interest of the Sikh Panth the head priests should refrain from going to the press.

The resolution passed at the meeting also makes a pertinent mention of this request to the takht chiefs. Both Jathedar Manjit Singh (Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib) and Jathedar Kewal Singh (Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo) were present.

The credit for today's meeting among others goes to activists of the Panthic Vichar Manch, who had played a role in bridging the gap among warring factions. The cooperation extended by the jathedars of takhts was also solicited. It was admitted that as a consequence of the controversy involving the World Sikh Council the sentiments of the Sikh Panth had been bruised. The meeting assured that in future in deference to the wishes and sentiments of the Sikhs the council has sorted out all irritants and will work unitedly forgetting the misunderstandings.

The SGPC president, Mr Tohra talking to newsmen, informally, said that it was "collective responsibility" of one and all not to raise any controversial issues which will harm the Sikh interests. The press should also exercise restraint. Though every individual had a freedom of speech those asked not to air their grievances to the press also had a conscience to respect the decision.

The Punjab Education Minister, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, who is a founder member of the council, said that with today's meeting the council president should be able to concentrate on achieving objectives for which the organisation was formed. "There are no hurdles in the way now".

Despite the smooth passage paved at the meeting, as claimed by leaders, the absence of both Mr Jaswant Singh Mann and Mr Shamsher Singh Maloya was discernible.

A letter written by Mr Gurcharan Singh to Jathedar Manjit Singh, who was earlier the World Sikh Council president, was also released in which he was asked to convene a meeting of the council and present list of the total membership at the joint meeting.

The application moved by Mr Maloya in the high court withdrawing his suit was also released.

The outcome of the meeting means that Justice Kuldip Singh will now get the full record in the light of the decision taken. In fact the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, had also been demanding that Bhai Manjit Singh should submit the statement of accounts. As patron of the council he should also be satisfied with the resolution.