M A I N   N E W S

Romana removed in violation of Takht edict
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 28
The Gurdwara Management Committee of Takht Patna Sahib has removed Mr Mohinder Singh Romana, president of the committee.

Earlier, Sikh clergy of Takht Patna Sahib had declared Mr Romana ‘tankhaiya‘ (guilty of religious misconduct) for using derogatory language against Takht jathedars and ‘Dasam Granth’.

Though Sikh clerics of Takht Patna Sahib had directed the gurdwara management to remove Mr Romana from presidentship, Akal Takht had issued directions not to take any decision on this issue as the matter was pending with the Takht here.

This is the first instance of defiance of the directives of Akal Takht by the management of Takht Patna Sahib. A meeting was held despite Mr Romana had cancelled it in his capacity as president of the committee.

The Management Committee of Takht Patna Sahib, presided over by Mr Tejinderpal Singh Dhillon, vice-president, had also constituted a three-member subcommittee to end the membership of Mr Romana. General Secretary Mohinder Singh Dhillon put up the directives of Akal Takht and communication of the District Magistrate, Patna Sahib, for discussion.

The meeting requisitioned on the request of five members was attended by eight members. Expressing concern over the developments denigrating the prestige of Patna Sahib and its high priests, the meeting alleged that Mr Romana tried to ‘misguide’ Akal Takht and the gurdwara management. The members said the decision to remove Mr Romana was taken to preserve the prestige and the maintenance of the ‘age old maryada’ (Sikh traditions) of Patna Sahib Takht.

However, Mr Romana described the decision of Takht Patna Sahib committee as “unconstitutional”. He said that an elected president could not be removed by the members even by moving ‘no-confidence motion’ for two and a half years.

Akal Takht had also described the decision of Takht Patna Sahib declaring Mr Romana as ‘tankhaiya’ as null and void. While Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar Patna Sahib had stated that all five Takhts had the right to declare any Sikh ‘tankhaiya’, Sikh high priests here had stated that it was the prerogative of Akal Takht.