Talwandi Sabo – Giani Gurmukh Singh has been appointed as the acting Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, at a ceremony held here on Sunday, 27th January.
The decision was reached following a meeting convened by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (S.G.P.C).
Giani Gurmukh Singh is old student of Damdami Taksal and has been serving as Granthi in SGPC for nearly 20 years. At present, He is the Head Granthi of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, ajya Sabha MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Cabinet Minister Sikander Singh Maluka, R MLAs Darshan Singh Kotfatta and Jeetmohinder Singh Sidhu, Jassa Singh of Budha Dal Nihang Singh and Hari Singh of Sant Samaj were among those present on the occasion.
Giani Gurmukh Singh has replaced Balwant Singh Nandgarh, who was recently removed from the post for not following a Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee order on the Nanakshahi Calendar.
Giani Gurmukh Singh is considered to be close to Dhumma and as such, there would be no difficult in withdrawing this calendar about which decision is to be taken at the meeting of the high priests.
Makkar said the Jathedar’s priority would be to give impetus to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s religious awareness campaigns. He reiterated that the Sikhs held a separate identity.
Asked how the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee would deal with issues relating to the appointment and tenure of Jathedars, he said a committee comprising Sikh scholars had been formed for the purpose, and that the matter would be resolved soon.