Panj Piaras summon all five Sikh high priests, suspended

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 21

In an unprecedented development, the ‘Panj Piaras’ (five beloved ones) of Akal Takht have summoned the Jathedars of five takhts to appear at Akal Takht on October 23 to clarify their position over granting pardon (subsequently withdrawn) to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee later suspended the Panj Pyaras.

The Panj Piaras, who perform ‘Amrit Sanchar’ (the baptism ritual) and are authorised by the SGPC to lead the nagar kirtans on Gurpurbs, took the step at a meeting held at Akal Takht on Wednesday. The five included Giani Satnam Singh, a second ‘Piara’ by the same name, Giani Tirlok Singh, Giani Mangal Singh and Giani Major Singh.

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said they were suspended for violating the service rules. "With this, the decision to summon the five high priests stands annulled. It was against the administrative ethics to take such a decision and could divide the Sikh community. That's why they have been suspended," he said. The SGPC also suspended six other employees, including secretaries Roop Singh and Manjit Singh, for staging a protest against the Akal Takht Jathedar at Gurdwara Manji Sahib on October 20. The others suspended were: Karaj Singh, Harcharan Singh Khalsa, Harpal Singh and Surjeet Singh.

On September 24, five Sikh high priests — Giani Gurbachan Singh (Akal Takht); Giani Mal Singh (Takht Kesgarh Sahib); Giani Gurbaksh Singh (Takht Damdama Sahib); Giani Iqbal Singh (Takht Patna Sahib); and Granthi Ram Singh (Takht Hazoor Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra) — had exonerated the chief of the Sirsa-based dera, of the charge of his alleged blasphemous act of wearing attire similar to that of Guru Gobind Singh in 2007. However, on October 16, following strong resentment among the Sikh community, they had withdrawn the ‘pardon’.