M A I N   N E W S

Panel to probe charges against Giani
Head Granthi’s resignation accepted
Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 21
The SGPC today deputed its Dharam Parchar Committee to look into allegations levelled against Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Kewal Singh, who has been charged with the murder of his daughter-in- law.

The executive committee of the SGPC, which met here at the Gurdwara Dukhniwaran, decided that the Dharam Parchar Committee should look into the matter in totality and give its recommendations. Talking to newsmen after the meeting, SGPC chief Jagdev Singh Talwandi said he could not take any action in the matter in his personal capacity.

Sources said this would the second time that the role of the Damdama Taksal Jathedar would be investigated. Earlier a three-member committee had been constituted to look into “omissions” committed by Giani Kewal Singh and Keshgarh Sahib jathedar Manjit Singh but it could not make any headway.

Meanwhile the Executive Committee accepted the resignation of Giani Kewal Singh’s supporter and Damdama Sahib Head Granthi Maan Singh. Speaking on the issue, the SGPC President said Maan Singh should not have gone to the Press on religious issues and should have approached the SGPC with his complaint. He said by doing so he had complicated a simple complaint which he said was being looked into by the Shiromani Committee.

Mr Talwandi said a committee had been formed to look into complaints that additional words were being incorporated in the ‘ardas’ being offered at a taksal samagam at Damdama Sahib. He said the committee would verify the truth adding the SGPC itself was clear on the issue that the “parbandh maryada” could not be changed under any circumstances.

The SGPC President said he had nothing to do with the formation of a reported coordination committee comprising the SGPC, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and the Sikh Dharma of Harbhajan Singh Yogi recently. He was questioned on the issue since it was reported that SGPC secretary Gurbachan Singh Bachhi was also a signatory to the formation of the committee. Meanwhile he disclosed that Mr Harbiant Singh had been given additional charge of secretary till Mr Bachhan returned from abroad.

Mr Talwandi said he had held parleys with the Centre on the offer extended by Pakistan to establish a corridor which would link Dera Baba Nanak on the Indian side of the border with Kartarpur gurdwara over 1 km away. He said the Centre had given a positive response to the offer.

Speaking on the recent issue of “disrespect” being meted out to ‘birs’ while transportation to various places. He said the Executive Committee had decided in principle that in future the Guru Granth Sahib be published abroad to ensure this did not happen. He said the modalities for this would be worked out and the Granth Sahib could be published in the UK the USA, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Among other decisions, the committee kept pending the issue of printing of “Sachi Sakhi” of Sirdar Kapoor Singh besides demoting five personnel promoted during the tenure of Bibi Jagir Kaur.