M A I N   N E W S

Akal Takht to summon Sarna, brother
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 19
The Sikh clergy has decided to summon Mr Harwinder Singh Sarna, newly elected chief of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), his predecessor Parmjit Singh Sarna and other office-bearers at Akal Takht for allegedly violating the directive issued by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar Akal, Takht regarding postponement of the annual election held in New Delhi today .

Talking to The Tribune here, Jathedar Vedanti said the meeting of the Sikh high priests would be convened at Akal Takht next week to take stock of the situation after the election held in violation of his directive. He described the development as most serious.

It is for the first time that Jathedar, Akal Takht, has intervened in such a manner.

Mr Avtar Singh Makkar, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), has urged Jathedar, Akal Takht, to declare Mr Sarna “tankhaiya” for violating Sikh “maryada” (Sikh code of conduct), allowing the police on the gurdwara premises: (venue of the election) and using derogatory language against Jathedar, Akal Takht.

Mr Daljit Singh Bedi, publicity in charge, SGPC, alleged that Mr Sarna had used derogatory language against Jathedar, Akal Takht, SGPC chief and Mr Parkash Singh Badal when he (Mr Bedi) told him about the directive issued by Jathedar Vedanti. However, Mr Sarna denied using such language.

Refuting the charges of violating the directive Mr Sarna said he was ready to appear before Akal Takht as a humble Sikh whenever summoned. He, however, claimed that Jathedar Vedanti had issued a back-date directive to scuttle the election process when it was clear that the Akali faction loyal to Mr Parkash Singh Badal was losing the poll. Mr Bhajan Singh Walia, a senior member of the DSGMC, alleged that Mr Ravinder Singh Khurana , the outgoing general secretary of the DSGMC, had not mentioned receiving any directive of Akal Takht during his press conference yesterday. This clearly showed that the letter was issued in the back date, which was distributed among DSGMC members on the eve of election.

Meanwhile, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, a veteran SGPC member of the Badal faction, claimed that Mr Sarna had not violated any “maryada”.

Interestingly, Mr Calcutta was the only Akali Dal leader who congratulated Mr Sarna over winning the election. However, Mr Calcutta denied that he had campaigned for Mr Sarna election. He said he had gone to New Delhi in connection with the death of his sister-in-law .

On the other hand, Jathedar, Akal Takht, today reiterated that the forthcoming meeting of the Sikh clergy would also discuss the action to be taken against Capt Kanwaljit Singh and Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, both former Akali ministers, and Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia , a former IAS officer, and other Sikhs for having links with Mr Joginder Singh, Editor, Spokesman, who was excommunicated from the Sikh Panth.