The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, December 20, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

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Puran Singh not called to meeting
Sikh clergy may discuss RSS issue
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Dec 19 — The crucial meeting of the Sikh clergy will be held at Akal Takht tomorrow. Giani Puran Singh, the newly appointed Head Granthi of the Golden Temple, has not been called to the meeting. In his absence, either Giani Charan Singh or Giani Gurbachan Singh, both priests of the Golden Temple, may be invited at the eleventh hour to the proposed meeting.

Sources confirm that invitation has not been extended to Giani Puran Singh for the meeting. This is for the first time that the Head Granthi of the Golden Temple has been sidelined by Akal Takht. The statement of Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, President SGPC, that Giani Puran Singh had been asked not to attend the meeting of the Sikh clergy, has already raised many an eyebrow. However, Baba Mangal Singh, acting President, Sant Samaj and a confidant of Giani Puran Singh, claims that Giani Puran Singh himself did not want to attend the meeting in which Prof Manjit Singh, Giani Kewal Singh, both Jathedars, of Kesgarh Sahib and Damdama Sahib, and Giani Bhagwan Singh, Head Granthi, Golden Temple, were ‘ex-communicated’ from the Panth on March 12. The edict was revoked by Giani Joginder Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht, on March 29.

Certain important issues are likely to appear at the meeting. A piquant situation may arise as this is the first meeting of the Sikh clergy being held after the controversial appointment of Giani Puran Singh as Head Granthi, Golden Temple. Resentment among the High Priests prevails as it was Giani Puran Singh who had ‘ex-communicated’ as many as three Jathedars of Takhts, the first such development in the 397-year history of Akal Takht.

Giani Puran Singh had stated that the ‘hukamnamas’ once issued could not be withdrawn. However, immediately after taking over as acting Jathedar, Akal Takht, on March 29, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti revoked all ‘hukamnamas’ issued between January 25 and March 28.

Sikh scholars are of the view that if the meeting fails to touch the appointment of Giani Puran Singh, the controversial edicts issued by him would become debatable once again. Prof Manjit Singh, Giani Kewal Singh, Giani Bhagwan Singh and Jathedar Vedanti were among the High Priests who had rejected the controversial edict issued by Giani Puran Singh on January 25 from Guna (Madhya Pradesh) wherein Bibi Jagir Kaur, the then SGPC chief, was excommunicated.

After that a campaign was launched against Giani Puran Singh on the issue of ‘maryada’ (the Sikh tradition). Sikh scholars alleged that Giani Puran Singh had violated the ‘maryada’ by issuing an edict from a place other than Akal Takht. Ultimately, Giani Puran Singh was removed as Jathedar by a pro-Bibi Jagir Kaur ‘SGPC’ on March 28.

In case Giani Puran Singh asks the priests of the Golden Temple not to attend the meeting, the decisions taken by the Sikh clergy can be questioned by the ‘Sikh sangat’. As per the Sikh tradition, a representative of the Golden Temple is must to complete the quorum for the meeting.

The sources, however, point out that the meeting may convene a meeting of representatives of Sikh bodies, organisations or religious heads to resolve the issue of ‘maryada’, including appointment of Giani Puran Singh.

The Sikh scholars say the issue of ‘maryada’ has become significant and a meeting ought to be convened at Akal Takht to reach a conclusion as some High Priests, leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal and even the SGPC are responsible for the “denigration” of Akal Takht during the past two years.

The Political Affairs Committee of the ruling SAD had directed the then SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, to appear before Akal Takht though the ‘hukamnama’ issued by Giani Puran Singh ‘excommunicating’ her from the Panth had become controversial. The position of High Priests had become awkward as SGPC executive members had appeared before Akal Takht in the wake of the controversial edict.

Another issue which may come up for a lengthy discussion is the intervention of the RSS in the internal affairs of the Sikhs. Though Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti has already warned the RSS leadership on this point, the meeting may issue a clear directive in this regard. The Sikh clergy may embarrass Giani Puran Singh by taking a firm stand on the separate identity of Sikhs.

While, Giani Puran Singh had stated that the Sikhs were descendents of ‘Luv and Kush’, as advocated by the RSS, the Sikh conclave held at Akal Takht on May 14 had categorically stated that the Sikhs had a distinct identity. A High Priest, on condition of anonymity, said that Giani Puran Singh who had questioned the ‘distinct identity’ of the Sikhs had no right to continue as the Head Granthi, Golden Temple.

Sources say the High Priests may not come for direct confrontation with the SGPC or its President on the issue of the appointment of Giani Puran Singh. It may find a ‘way out’ by convening a ‘Sikh conclave’ in the near future. In case, the Sikh High Priests openly question the appointment of Giani Puran Singh, the SGPC executive, which meets on December 21, a day after the meeting of the Sikh clergy, may take steps to undo their decision.

It may be mentioned here that the SGPC executive is competent to appoint and remove High Priests. An inquiry is already pending against Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh.

Giani Joginder Singh, who was appointed acting Jathedar, Akal Takht, on March 28 after Giani Puran Singh was sacked, has not been confirmed so far. It is yet to be seen whether the Sikh High Priests issue any directive to the SGPC with regard to the appointment of Giani Puran Singh or not. The appointment of the latter is to be confirmed by the SGPC executive on December 21.