Excommunicated Gurdwara Committee Member Appears at Akal Takhat Sahib

:dateline:Jarnail Singh Bhandal, a former President of the Ross St. Gurdwara in Vancouver, British Columbia appeared at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib after having been excommunicated for more than 14 years. �Bhandal, along with other committee members of the Ross St. Gurdwara were excommunicated in 1998 by Singh Sahib Bhai Ranjit Singh for going against the Sikh tenets and installing tables and chairs at the Gurdwara.

Bhandal appeared in front of five Singh Sahibs at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and begged for pardon for his past misdeeds in Canada. �Giani Gurbachan Singh told the press after the meeting at the Takhat Sahib that Bhandal has been forgiven as per the Sikh traditions and he has been imposed community service.

Bhandal was asked to clean the shoes of devotees for 4 consecutive Sundays in different Canada based Gurdwaras. �After being forgiven for causing divides in the community and breaking Sikh traditions, Bhandal has been allowed to return back to the faith.

While appearing at the Akal Takhat Sahib, Bhandal told the five Singh Sahibs that he would work to unite the Sikh community in Canada and help resolve the table and chairs issue. ��Giani Gurbachan Singh (Akal Takhat Sahib), Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh (Damdama Sahib), Giani Iqbal Singh (Patna Sahib), Giani Jaswinder Singh and Giani Mal Singh (Sri Harmandar Sahib) were present at the meeting.

Although Bhandal has sought forgiveness, the Ross St. Gurdwara continues to defy the Akal Takhat Sahib by serving langar on tables and chairs.� Singh Sahib Bhai Ranjit Singh, who excommunicated Jarnail Singh Bhandal in 1998 along with other Ross Gurdwara committee members alleged that just like Bhandal, Parkash Badal should be given “tankha” for defying maryada. �He alleged that Badal had sat on a sofa during Akhand Path and also whilst partaking in langar of Guru Raamdas Sahib.