The dismissed Panj Pyaras of Akal Takht today issued ‘gurmata’ (religious decree) against the five Takht heads urging the Sikh community to boycott them.
As the former Panj Pyaras were prevented from reaching Akal Takht by the police and the SGPC task force, they passed the ‘gurmata’ at Gurdwara Terah (13) Singha Da Angitha. The Panj Pyaras, Satnam Singh Khanda, Satnam Singh, Tarlok Singh and Mangal Singh, were sacked by the SGPC yesterday, and Bhai Major Singh retired on December 31.
They held SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and Chief Secretary Harcharan Singh responsible for not adhering to their earlier ‘gurmata’ of removing the five Takht heads, resulting in commotion among the Sikh community all over the globe.
They had passed directions, asking the SGPC executive to dismiss the Takht heads by January 1, but it didn’t happen. Rather, the SGPC sacked them allegedly for ‘violating the service rules’ and for ‘anti-Panthic’ activities.
SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said the ‘gurmata’ passed by them held no sanctity as they had been sacked. “They are misleading the Sikh community. All their moves are aimed at creating differences among the community and hence could never be considered,” he said.
Defying it, Satnam Khanda, who read today’s ‘gurmata’, said, “The Sikh community has lost faith in the five Takht heads. They made political decisions in Dera Sauda chief’s case. The SGPC too has failed to replace them. We were compelled to place the issue in the court of Sikh Panth. We urge the Sikh community to boycott the existing five Takht heads.”
Since morning, heavy police force in plain clothes and the SGPC task force was deployed at the Golden Temple to prevent the former Panj Pyaras to enter Akal Takht. The Panj Pyaras had earlier said they would announce their line of action there.
Satnam Khanda, who had been staying at a private inn near the Golden Temple since last night, was detained by the police in the morning. The purpose was to prevent him from joining his colleagues, but he managed to slip to an unknown destination on a motorbike driven by a masked man.
Later in the evening, the Panj Pyaras got together at Gurdwara Terah (13) Singha Da Angitha near Gurudwara Ramsar Sahib. As per the maryada (Sikh ethics), they passed the ‘gurmata’ against the five Takht heads in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, before going into a hiding. Sources said the police had been repeatedly raiding their homes since last night to take them into preventive custody.
Sikh organisations lend support
Amritsar: The Dal Khalsa, SAD Panch Pardani and Panthic Talmel Sangathan have accepted the verdict of Panj Pyaras for the social boycott of Takht heads. Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh and Panch Pardani activist Harpal Cheema said the verdict had articulated the will of the community. They said the disgraced Jathedars had no moral ground to continue and that they should quit. Panthic Talmel Sangathan convener and former Takht Damdama Sahib head Giani Kewal Singh said preventing Panj Pyaras from entering the Golden Temple complex was a ‘murder of democracy’.
Make high priest acting Jathedar: Panjoli
Fatehgarh Sahib: SGPC executive member Karnail Panjoli has urged SGPC chief Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar to appoint Golden Temple high priest Giani Jagtar Singh as acting Jathedar of Akal Takht to placate the Sikh masses. Panjoli said the SGPC should have also removed Akal Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh as the people had lost faith in him. He said it was unfortunate that the Jathedar of the Takhts were holding on to their posts despite facing several protests. He said the three Jathedars should take moral responsibility for their actions and resign.
Source: TNS