Ahead of Bandi Chhor Divas, Sarbat Khalsa Jathedars detained

AMRITSAR – Ahead of Bandi Chhor Divas and to prevent “parallel Jathedars” from reaching Akal Takht, the police detained Sarbat Khalsa appointed jathedars.

The Amritsar Rural police today detained Takht Kesgarh Sahib “parallel” Jathedar Amrik Singh Ajnala and his supporters at Taksal Dera in Ajnala.

“Only time will tell who will deliver the address at Akal Takht? Let the ‘sangat’ decide who should be eligible to read out the ‘message’ — Akal Takht ‘acting Jathedar’ Dhian Singh Mand or Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh?”, said Jathedar Ajnala

SSP (rural) Parampal Singh said, “Ajnala has been detained till the culmination of Bandi Chhor Divas to maintain law and order.”

The police also cordoned off Jathedar Baljit Singh Daduwal by deploying police outside the gurdwara, where was he was staying out.

“I fear that the police would take me in custody the moment I step out,” he said.

Security beefed around Harmandir Sahib complex

As the SGPC can only make security arrangements on the Golden Temple complex, it wants the government to deploy police, also in plain clothes, around the Golden Temple complex.

“Not only the government, we appeal all, including devotees and Sikh hardliners, to cooperate with us. We don’t violence…the Bandi Chhod Diwas should pass off peacefully,” said Roop Singh, SGPC secretary.

“Not only the government, we appeal all, including devotees and Sikh hardliners, to cooperate with us. We don’t violence…the Bandi Chhod Diwas should pass off peacefully.”

He also said the parallel jathedars are welcomed to come to the Akal Takht, but not when the takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh will deliver his “sandesh”. “Sri Darbar Sahib is pious place and centre of spiritualism, and no one is allowed to vitiate its peace,” he said.

Replying to a query, he said the parallel jathedar’s attempt to read out a message would be considered as indiscipline and violation of maryada.

Meanwhile, hitting back at Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, the parallel jathedars accused him of terrorising them. Giani Gurbachan Singh had strictly asked the SGPC and the state government to rein in parallel jathedars.

“This year too, parallel jathedar of Akal Takht Dhian Singh Mand will read out his sandesh peacefully on Bandi Chhod Diwas,” reads the press release issued by Jagmeet Singh, spokesperson of the parallel jathedars.

“The state government should not entertain the SGPC. SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar and Giani Gurbachan Singh will be responsible of vitiating the peace if Mand is stopped from delivering the message,” said the spokesperson.