Amritsar, February 26
Crisis of the Sikh Panth deepened as Giani Joginder Singh Talwara of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha (Prabandhki Panchyan) today resigned as member of the Religious Advisory Committee constituted by the SGPC to advise the Sikh clergy on religious matters, in protest against the removal of Prof Manjit Singh as Jathedar, Kesgarh Sahib in violation of the Sikh traditions.
Criticising the SGPC, Mr Talwara alleged that Sikh high priests were not being allowed to perform their duties freely and the role of the Shiromani Committee remained negative so far as implementing the directives of the Sikh clergy were concerned. He, criticised Jathedar, Akal Takht, Joginder Singh Vedanti for not calling the Akali leaders, including Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Mr Sucha Singh Langah, a former Akali minister, for wearing “mukats” and arranging recitations of the Ramayana in violation of “maryada” (Sikh traditions). He said the former Chief Minister was also accused of setting up a chair in name of ‘Satguru Ram Singh’ in Guru Nanak Dev University.
Mr Talwara said though Giani Puran Singh, who was removed by the SGPC for issuing controversial edicts as Jathedar, Akal Takht, was later promoted and appointed Head Granthi, Golden Temple, in violation of the SGPC. He alleged that the Jathedar, Akal Takht, failed to muster courage to take action against Giani Puran Singh though he was not attending the meeting of the Sikh clergy as per the “maryada”.
Mr Talwara alleged that he was resigning his post as the Jathedar, Akal Takht, could not take action against the leaders accused of attending the ‘congregations’ of Ashutosh Maharaj. Many Akali leaders, including Ms Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of Mr Badal, had visited the ‘dera’ of Ashutosh. Mr Talwara said the SGPC had “unnecessarily” revived the controversy over the participation of the baptised Sikh women in the ceremonies inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple though the Sikh clergy had already given permission to them (Sikh women).
He further alleged that the SGPC had failed to arrange video-conferencing with a Canada-based Sikh scholar Gurbax Singh Kala Afghana who was directed by Akal Takht to present his case.
He said it was a matter of concern that even after three years the SGPC had failed to frame rules and regulations for the appointment and removal of Sikh high priests despite clear directive issued by Jathedar Vedanti.
