M A I N   N E W S

Deadlock on maryada issue
No communication between High Priests
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 24
Even as Giani Puran Singh, Head Granthi, Golden Temple, and the rest of the Sikh High Priests, including Jathedar of Akal Takht, have refused to budge on their respective stands on “maryada”, the long-pending meeting at Akal Takht is unlikely to be held in the near future to resolve the current Panthic matters.

Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, today admitted that the deadlock between the Head Granthi (Golden Temple) and other High Priests might continue and it was a matter of great concern.

It may be mentioned that the meeting of the High Priests could not be held since December last after the controversial appointment of Giani Puran Singh on December 8.

Giani Puran Singh was appointed Head Granthi against the wishes of Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Kesgarh Sahib, and Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Damdama Sahib, and Giani Bhagwan Singh, Head Granthi, Akal Takht, who were excommunicated by him (Giani Puran Singh) through a controversial hukamnama (edict) when he was Jathedar Akal Takht.

However, immediately after his installation as Jathedar (Akal Takht), Jathedar Vedanti revoked all controversial edicts issued by Giani Puran Singh. This was the reason that neither Giani Puran Singh nor the rest of the jathedars wanted to sit together to hold a meeting at Akal Takht. Giani Puran Singh has been avoiding other jathedars as it will render his own hukamnamas null and void, wherein three High Priests were excommunicated.

On the other hand, the rest of the High Priests will not like to sit with Giani Puran Singh as they were “wrongly” excommunicated. However, the Jathedar (Akal Takht) and other High Priests had already explained that the meeting of Akal Takht could not be held without the presence of the Head Granthi of the Golden Temple.

Many Panthic matters, including “jantri” (calendar), controversy pertaining to the Dasam Granth and definition of Sikh could not be resolved so far as no meeting was held in the past about three months.

Giani Joginder Singh who has returned from his foreign religious tour, talking to TNS, said all religious matters could be resolved after the meeting.

Despite efforts, Jathedar Talwandi, President, SGPC, could not break the deadlock between Giani Puran Singh and other High Priests. He held separate meetings with the High Priests but the matter could not be resolved.

The appointment of Giani Puran Singh was the first order after the appointment of Jathedar Talwandi as SGPC chief. Giani Puran Singh was earlier sacked as Jathedar (Akal Takht) and suspended as Granthi of the Golden Temple by the pro-Bibi Jagir Kaur executive last year.