M A I N   N E W S

Crucial SGPC meeting on June 8
SHSAD to seek Jathedar’s resignation
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 3
A stormy meeting of the SGPC executive will be held here on June 8 two days after the ‘ghallughara’ divas (genocide day) — at which members belonging to the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal will seek the resignation of Giani Kewal Singh as Jathedar, Damdama Sahib, who has been summoned by a Talwandi Sabo court on June 11 in connection with the alleged suicide by his daughter-in-law.

The SHSAD members will also demand a probe against the SGPC Secretary, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, for giving a letter to the ruling party SGPC member, Mr Tarlochan Singh for visiting Canada along with two Akali ministers. The ministers and Mr Dupalpur allegedly took three Sikhs along with them to Canada who ‘disappeared’ after the Baisakhi function there.

Mr Harbans Singh Manjpur and Mr Onkar Singh Arora, both executive members belonging to the SHSAD, talking to TNS said, there was a need to probe the hand of SGPC officials in the alleged ‘human cargo’ which had brought shame to the Sikh Panth.

The SHSAD would also demand a high-level inquiry into the allegations that an invaluable ‘bir’ of the holy Guru Granth Sahib had been sent to Canada without the approval of the SGPC.

Mr Balbir Singh Changiara, a Sikh missionary settled in Canada, had stated that he had taken the ‘bir’ with the blessings of Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, the then in charge of the Sikh Reference Library, through Mr Ajaib Singh, the then manager, Darbar Sahib.

The SHSAD members, who have been soft towards Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi since his election as SGPC chief, will now be vocal against the alleged wrong decisions taken during his tenure. Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, SHSAD, who visited Amritsar yesterday, held a meeting with the executive members belonging to his faction. Mr Tohra reportedly gave them the green signal to raise voice against the ‘anti-Panthic’ decisions.

Sources said Mr Tohra had to take this decision in the wake of the forthcoming Assembly elections. The members were also likely to criticise the SGPC for withdrawing written permission to the AISSF for observing ‘ghalughara divas’.

Another significant item on the agenda which would come up for discussion is “Saachi Sakhi” authored by former ICS officer Sirdar Kapur Singh which carries objectionable contents against Master Tara Singh, maternal grandfather of Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, general secretary, SGPC. Bibi Kiranjot Kaur had demanded a ban on the printing of the new edition of, “Saachi Sakhi” even as SGPC’s Dharm Parchar Committee had recommended its publication.

Mr Jasbir Singh Ghuman, general secretary, SHSAD talking to TNS, said the SGPC must seek the resignation of Giani Kewal Singh as Jathedar, Damdama Sahib. The jathedar of any Takht had never appeared before a court so far. He said it was a matter of concern that despite the registration of an FIR in a criminal case, Giani Kewal Singh had not resigned.