Amritsar, January 29
The Sikh high priests today ex-communicated Prof Darshan Singh, former Akal Takht Jathedar, from the Sikh Panth for his controversial Rochester gurdwara (USA) discourse and ostensibly for his ‘defiant posture’ towards the Sikh clergy during the hearing of the case. It is for the first time that a former Jathedar of Akal Takht has been ex-communicated.
Reacting to the decision of the five Sikh priests, led by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, Prof Darshan Singh has said no one can detach him from ‘Sikhi’ and that he is still a Sikh
of the ‘Satguru’. “I have not taken the ‘Sikhi’ from anyone. Nobody can snatch it from me,” he said in a letter addressed to Akal Takht.
Earlier, he was declared a tankhayia on December 5 for his alleged blasphemous remarks against Guru Gobind Singh during his discourse at a Rochester-based gurdwara. The punishment was slapped on him on basis of a CD recording of his discourse, which was forwarded to Akal Takht by some USA-based Sikhs along with their complaint against Prof Darshan Singh.
The former Akal Takht Jathedar had presented himself at the Takht on December 5, but he had refused to appear before the priests saying he could not appear before them in a separate room of the Takht secretariat.
The Sikh high priests - Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, Balwant Singh Nandgarh of Takht Damdama Sahib, Iqbal Singh of Takht Patna Sahib, Tarlochan Singh of Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Jot Inder Singh, Deputy Jathedar of Takht Hazoor Sahib -started deliberating on the issue at the secretariat at 10.30 a.m.
Their marathon meeting on the contentious issue concluded at around 5 pm when they issued the edict and Giani Gurbachan Singh read it out from Akal Takht stating that Prof Darshan Singh has been expelled from the Sikh Panth.
“Prof. Darshan Singh was asked to appear at the Takht and give his clarification regarding his blasphemous remarks. But he refused to appear before the five Sikh high priests. Not only this, he also used inappropriate language against them. He is being expelled from the Sikh Panth. The Sikh sangat should not keep any relation with him. Prof Darshan Singh or any of his supporters should not be allowed to speak from any Sikh stage in the country or abroad. The violators will be treated as tankhayias,” said Giani Gurbachan Singh.
Anguished over his ex-communication, the Dal Khalsa described the development as bad for the Sikh community. Organisation spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh said the recent decisions of the Jathedars would divide the community.
