M A I N   N E W S

Manjit Singh Calcutta made SGPC Chief Secy
Bhaur reinducted into executive panel
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 5
In violation of the directives of Sikh Gurdwara Judicial commission, the SGPC executive committee today appointed Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta (65), a confidant of Mr Gurcharn Singh Tohra and Sikh scholar as chief secretary (honorary) of the committee. Earlier the SGPC had removed Giani Bhagwan Singh, Head Granthi Akal Takht and many employees above 60 years of age as per the directives of the commission.

There is no provision of chief secretary’s post in the SGPC. A large number of followers of Mr Tohra gathered at the venue of the meeting while supporters of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, president Shiromani Akali Dal were conspicuous by their absence.

Though Mr Calcutta justified his appointment as chief secretary on the pretext that he won’t claim any salary, yet he would be using official car and other facilities by virtue of his post.

Meanwhile, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, another confidant of Mr Tohra has been re-inducted into the Executive body. Mr Bhaur had resigned as executive committee member to pave the way for the appointment of Mr Tohra as SGPC chief.

After becoming the SGPC chief, Mr Tohra, has started consolidating his position in the Shiromani Committee thereby upsetting ‘Badal loyalists’. Mr Raghbir Singh, a former PA to SGPC chief proceeded on protest leave when he was replaced by Mr Ranbir Singh another confidant of Mr Tohra .

Mr Tohra has announced that he would restore the honour of Bhai Ranjit Singh, who was removed as Jathedar Akal Takht as he tried to maintain truce among warring Akali factions before the celebrations of tercentenary of the Khalsa Panth.

Mr Tohra announced that Pakistan being a sovereign country could form Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC). However, he hastened to add that the SGPC could give recognition to the PSGPC provided it was headed by a baptised Sikh. He said there was need of an international Sikh body in which due representation should be given to the SGPC and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, etc.

UNI adds: The SGPC has decided to strengthen and speed up efforts of propagating Sikh tenets and maryada to counter the negative impact of the electronic media.

Talking to reporters here today after the SGPC executive committee meeting, its president Gurcharan Singh Tohra said today’s meeting had expressed concern over the growing tendency among Sikhs, particularly youths to abandon Sikh tenets and religious practices under the influence of TV programmes.