AMRITSAR – Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh has been appointed as acting jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), met on Monday and accepted the resignation of Giani Gurbachan Singh. The SGPC executive gave Giani Harpreet Singh additional charge of acting jathedar of the Akal Takht.
President Gobind Singh Longowal who chaired the emergency meeting at Teja Singh Samundari Hall said Giani Harpreet Singh will remain on the post till permanent jathedar is appointed.
Various Sikh organizations have already declared to reject the process being adopted by the SGPC to appoint Jathedars.
The World Sikh Parliament (WSP) which endorsed the appointment of acting Jathedars that was announced on November 10, 2015 during a Panthic gathering at village Chabba, has termed the resignation of Giani Gurbachan Singh as a ‘darama’.
The Panthic Assembly that concluded yesterday also told the SGPC to abstain from appointing Jathedar on its own and without developing due procedure with the consent of Panthic bodies.
Giani Harpreet Singh, 45, who hails from Gidderbaha in Muktsar, is pursuing his PhD in comparative study of religious teachings of Quran and Guru Granth Sahib from Punjabi University.
Giani Harpreet Singh is the second Jathedar of the Sri Akal Takht from Muktsar, after Giani Gurbachan Singh, who quit the position two days ago.