M A I N   N E W S

Bibi’s letter won’t do: Jathedar
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, March 25 — Even as hectic efforts are afoot to persuade Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht, to give a fresh date to Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC chief, to seek pardon for “religious misconduct”, the former has clearly indicated that she cannot be summoned on the basis of “vague letter” in which she has desired to appear before Akal Takht.

Bibi Jagir Kaur wrote to Giani Puran Singh for the second time on March 22, saying she was ready to resolve the current crisis as she was dedicated to Akal Takht. Sources close to Giani Puran Singh said he had told the mediators that Bibi Jagir Kaur had not accepted she had done any wrong.

The Akal Takht Jathedar has reportedly asked the mediators to ask the Bibi to write yet another letter seeking forgiveness for religious misconduct.

Baba Kashmira Singh, President, Gurmat Gurbani Sant Samaj, and Mr Hardalbir Singh Shah, General Secretary, SGPC, held a closed-door meeting with Giani Puran Singh at his residence for more than two hours. Giani Puran Singh reportedly refused to oblige them. Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister, who had delivered the letter of Bibi Jagir Kaur to Giani Puran Singh on March 22, is camping here to resolve the crisis.

Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and president of the SAD, is keen that Bibi Jagir Kaur should appear before the Takht prior to the SGPC executive meeting.

In the given circumstances, Bibi Jagir Kaur is unlikely to preside over the forthcoming executive meeting and the annual budget meeting scheduled for March 28 and 30, respectively. Though the Akal Takht jathedar has no legal right to direct the SGPC or the SAD to appoint acting chief of the SGPC, yet in the wake of her ‘excommunication’, the meetings could be presided over by appointing an acting President.

Giani Puran Singh had directed the SAD President to appoint acting high priests in place of Prof Manjit Singh, Giani Kewal Singh and Giani Bhagwan Singh, who were also excommunicated on March 12. However, the SAD has not acted on his directive in this regard so far.

The excommunicated Sikh high priests and many panthic organisations have criticised Bibi Jagir Kaur for applying to Giani Puran Singh to seek forgiveness. The three Sikh high priests and two SGPC members were excommunicated for challenging the “hukamnama” excommunicating her.

They feel the Bibi should have consulted them before applying to Giani Puran Singh.

Though Mr Badal had also appealed to the high priests to appear before Akal Takht, they are unlikely to do so at this juncture.