SGPC sacks four of Panj Pyaras

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today dismissed the services of four out of five Panj Pyaras (the five beloved ones) for allegedly challenging Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat, and defying the service rules by indulging in anti-Panthic activities. The fifth retired on Thursday.

Those dismissed — Satnam Singh Khanda, Satnam Singh, Mangal Singh and Tarlok Singh — remained defiant and said they would hold a meeting at Akal Takht on Saturday against the five Takht heads. Major Singh, who retired on December 31, said he would also attend the meeting.

The Panj Pyaras had demanded the removal of the five Takht heads over their controversial flip-flop on exonerating Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for his 2007 blasphemous act of impersonating Guru Gobind Singh at a religious congregation in Sirsa.

The SGPC had convened a meeting today to take a call on the “ultimatum” served on it by the Panj Pyaras demanding removal of the five Takht heads, including Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh, by January 1. Dismissed Panj Pyara Khanda said they would assemble at the Akal Takht on Saturday.

“We are determined to hold an assembly tomorrow, but we will not violate the Sikh tenets or code of conduct. We would hold our meeting wherever we are stopped,” he said.

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said the dismissed Panj Pyaras had no authority to assemble at Akal Takht. “If they still attempt to do so, it will be another violation,” he said.

Three sets of Panj Pyaras were associated with Akal Takht, but none of them had ever challenged the authority of the highest temporal seat, he said.

“Panj Pyaras have great significance but those dismissed have been lowering the sanctity of the Takhts, which cannot be overlooked.

“They were the employees of the Dharam Parchar Committee mandated to serve as Panj Pyaras. Their basic duty was to perform ‘amrit sanchar’ (baptism), leading the religious processions, and preach Sikhism, like Panj Pyaras of other Takhts. They could be transferred anywhere in the country and even overseas. But without bothering to comply with SGPC’s service norms, they repeatedly indulged in anti-Panthic activities in a ‘planned’ manner“, said Makkar.

“They conspired to create a division within the community by indulging in anti-Panthic activities and lowering the sanctity of Akal Takht and Sikh tenets. When two of them were transferred out, they refused to join the new posting. Taking into account their negative approach, the SGPC executive today ordered their dismissal,” he said.

Those who attended the SGPC meeting included senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk, junior vice-president Kewal Singh Badal, Karnail Singh Panjoli, Rajinder Singh Mehta, Dyal Singh Kolianwali, besides chief secretary Harchran Singh, Dr Roop Singh and Avtar Singh.