Amritsar, November 13
The Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, has given broad indications of summoning Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab Chief Minister, and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, at Akal Takht for their alleged role in creating an unsavoury situation on the eve of the annual SGPC poll, which concluded here yesterday.
Mr Vedanti was present at the time of passing of a resolution in the SGPC general house to this effect yesterday. The resolution sought summoning of Capt Amarinder Singh at Akal Takht for allegedly sending the police into the Darbar Sahib complex. Talking to mediapersons, Mr Vedanti claimed that he had not as yet received a copy of the resolution. He, however, said Capt Amarinder Singh could be summoned only after reaching a consensus at a forthcoming meeting of the Sikh clergy. Mr Vedanti, however, kept mum on a query that the Sikh high priests had themselves condemned the entry of the police into the SGPC complex and the harassment caused to the Sikh sangat. This was sufficient basis for declaring him tankhaiya as per the Sikh maryada.
Replying to a query, Mr Vedanti said Mr Tohra could be summoned if sufficient proof was given to the Sikh high priests. He, however, said Mr Tohra had played into the hands of ‘anti-panthic ‘forces.
Mr Vedanti also criticised the state government for appointing two observers for the SGPC poll yesterday. He described the move of the state government as ‘anti-panthic’ and unprecedented.
According to sources, unlike Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President of the SAD, Capt Amarinder Singh, who is a devout Sikh, would appear before Akal Takht if he is summoned by the Sikh clergy. By doing so, he will re-establish himself as a devout Sikh as his base has been eroded after the siege of the SGPC complex on the eve of the SGPC poll.
If the Sikh clergy decide to summon Capt Amarinder Singh, he will be the first Congress Chief Minister to accept the authority of Akal Takht.
On an earlier occasion, the Sikh clergy had accepted the written clarification of Giani Zail Singh, the then president of India, that he was not responsible for Operation Bluestar.
The legendary Maharaja Ranjit Singh had accepted tankhiya pronounced by the then jathedar of Akal Takht, Baba Phula Singh, for keeping illicit relations with one “Moran”.
