M A I N   N E W S

Edict to stay: Jathedar
From Varinder Walia and Navjot Sidhu
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Feb 1 — Adhering to the decision of excommunicating Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC President, from the Panth, Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht, today reiterated that the ‘‘hukamnama’’ once issued could not be withdrawn.

He said he was determined to hold a meeting of the Sikh clergy at Akal Takht tomorrow where the SGPC executive had been summoned for violating the directives of the Takht with regard to the controversial Nanakshahi calendar.

Giani Puran Singh, who returned to the city in the wee hours today after his nine-day visit to Hazoor Sahib, Nanded, Maharashtra, talking to TNS, said the ‘‘hukamnama’’ was valid and in accordance with ‘‘maryada’’ (Sikh traditions).

Meanwhile, special emissaries of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who had a long closed-door meeting with the Akal Takht Jathedar, failed to persuade him to withdraw the edict. Mr Rajinder Singh Mehta, Mr Amarjit Singh Chawla, President and Secretary General, Sikh Students Federation, respectively, and Mr Avtar Singh Hit, President, Shiromani Akali Dal, New Delhi and a confidant of Mr Badal, could not persuade Giani Puran Singh to change his stance.

Disappointed, the federation and Akali leaders left for Nawanshahr to apprise Mr Badal about the talks.

Replying to a question, Giani Puran Singh said it was not mandatory for the Akal Takht Jathedar to issue an

edict from the Takht itself. There had been instances when ‘‘hukamnamas’’ were issued from elsewhere. He pointed out the verdict on excommunicating the then Union Home Minister, Mr Buta Singh, was issued at a congregation at gurdwara Shaheedan in Amritsar as the Golden Temple then was in the occupation of the Army after Operation Bluestar.

To the criticism that the ‘‘hukamnama’’ was not endorsed by the five Head Priests, Giani Puran Singh said it was issued after the quorum was complete.

Asked whether Bibi Jagir Kaur had been summoned at Akal Takht to clarify her position, he clarified that no letter had ever been issued to a person excommunicated. It was up to the person to write to the Takht for rejoining the Panth.

Asked why the ‘‘hukamnama’’ was delayed when the crisis had begun in mid-December last year, the Jathedar said it was issued at the ‘‘appropriate time’’ after Bibi Jagir Kaur was given ‘‘enough time to mend her ways’’.

Bibi Jagir Kaur, when contacted on the telephone, clarified that she had not received any directive from Giani Puran Singh to appear at Akal Takht yet. She refused to entertain more queries.

On the other hand, an informal meeting of the executive members belonging to the Badal camp has been summoned at Phagwara (Kapurthala). Mr Balbir Singh Naushehra Pannu, Mr Hardalbir Singh Shah, senior vice-president and general secretary of the SGPC, respectively, along with Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Secretary, SGPC, have rushed to Phagwara to attend the meeting. Earlier, Mr Shah had announced that the entire executive of the SGPC would appear before Akal Takht on February 2.

UNI adds: The stage is set for excommunicated SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur to appear here on Wednesday before a defiant Akal Takht Jathedar, who has ruled out any compromise with the ruling Akali Dal (Badal) on the issue. “The matter involved is religious in nature. There is no question of toning it down,” he said.