AMRITSAR, Dec 20 — In a strategic move, the four Sikh high priests, who have postponed their meeting indefinitely due to lack of quorum, sought a clarification from Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi and the SGPC executive on the ‘non-participation’ of Giani Puran Singh in the meeting of Sikh clergy. With this, a ‘cold war’ between Giani Puran Singh and other high priests has come to the fore.

This is for the first time in the 397-year-old history of Akal Takht that such a clarification has been sought from the SGPC executive. A piquant situation has arisen with this move of the four high priests, who are opposed to the appointment of Giani Puran Singh as head granthi. The decision of four high priests seeking clarification is likely to create hurdles in the confirmation of Giani Puran Singh as head granthi at tomorrow’s meeting.

Apart from Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar of Akal Takht, Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar of Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Giani Kewal Singh. Jathedar of Damdama Sahib, and Giani Bhagwan Singh, Head Granthi of Akal Takht, were present at the meeting. Interestingly, Giani Charn Singh, a senior granthi of the Golden Temple, who met the other four high priests at the Akal Takht secretariat during the meeting, left for his home after an hour.

Giani Charn Singh has already lodged a protest with Mr Talwandi over the fresh appointment of Giani Puran Singh. Giani Charn Sing has reportedly offered to go on protest leave.

The four high priests evaded a reply on the leaving of the meeting venue by Giani Charn Singh mid-way.

Talking to newsmen after the meeting, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti said that it was mandatory for the Head Granthi of the Golden Temple to attend the meeting of the Sikh clergy. He said the letter seeking clarification from Mr Talwandi and the SGPC executive had been handed over to Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Secretary of the SGPC, for being delivered to the SPGPC chief. Jathedar Vedanti sought clarification about the circumstances under which Giani Puran Singh had been stopped from attending the meeting at Akal Takht. The four high priests said that they had read in the newspapers that Jathedar Talwandi had restrained him (Giani Puran Singh) from attending the meeting. “Under which circumstances he was directed to stay away from the meeting”, they asked.

Jathedar Vedanti said that Akal Takht had not yet received any decision from the SGPC in writing in which Giani Puran Singh was asked to stay away from the meeting. “As per Sikh maryada, no religious decision can be taken without quorum”, he said. Jathedar Vedanti, however, refused to entertain questions on the controversial appointment of Giani Puran Singh. He said the meeting had been postponed till a written clarification from the SGPC executive was received.

It is a catch-22 situation for Mr Talwandi. Though the high priests, who are against the appointment of Giani Puran Singh as head granthi, of the Golden Temple, have not come into direct confrontation with the SGPC, heads are likely to roll in the near future. Under the prevailing situation, the SGPC will have no other option but to take a firm decision tomorrow to defuse the crisis.

A section of Sikhs feels that the SGPC executive can either revert Giani Puran Singh to the post of granthi or it may take drastic step against the four high priests. Neither does Giani Puran Singh want to sit with the high priests, who were excommunicated from the Sikh Panth through a controversial ‘hukamnama’, nor do they (the rest of the high priests) want to involve him (Giani Puran Singh) in the forthcoming meetings. Giani Puran Singh and Jathedar Vedanti also do not see eye to eye as the latter had revoked all ‘hukamnamas’ issued by the former in capacity of jathedar wherein the then SGPC chief and three high priests were excommunicated from the Sikh Panth.

The SGPC executive is competent to appoint and remove high priests. During the past two years, Bhai Ranjit Singh and Giani Puran Singh were removed by the executive. An inquiry is pending against Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh. Sources say that the coming days are crucial for the Sikh Panth as the issue of ‘maryada’ would be debated after a gap of one year.