AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—The five-member Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) investigation panel may have recommended forgiving the alleged accused of the clash that happened inside Sri Darbar Sahib Complex on the 30th anniversary function of the June 1984 holocaust, but the final decision will rest with Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
A meeting of Panj Singh Sahibans (highest presidium of Sikhs) under the aegis of Sri Akal Takht Sahib appointed Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh where he later gave an indication that a decision will be made after going through the reports of the panel, which are currently lying with SGPC chief Avtar Makkar.
He said replying to a media query, “We have not yet received the report. When we get it, the highest presidium will examine it and then take a decision on whether to pardon (the guilty).”
Media person particularly asked the Jathedar whether he would ask the supreme Sikh Gurdwara body to get the criminal cases filed against Sikh youths for their alleged involvement in the clash withdrawn. As per media reports, he remained evasive when pointed out that the 22 men who are behind bars for their involvement in the June 6 clash, have agreed to undergo religious punishment that given by the Takht for having breached the “maryada” (code of conduct).
“We will look into that aspect after getting the report”, he quipped.
Excommunication of Rajashan based Sikh
In the other decision, the Panj Singh Sahiban excommunicated Baldev Singh of Budha Johar Educational Trust in Rajasthan for disregarding Sri Akal Takht Sahib directions. They have asked two other trust members to appear before them during the next meeting.
The Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, announced that Baldev Singh had been excommunicated. He asked the Sikh Sangat to boycott him, till the time he appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and atoned.
The case against Baldev Singh goes back to 2010, when certain Sikhs of Rajasthan handed over a written complaint to the jathedar, accusing him (Baldev) of violating the “maryada” of the Gurdwara at Buddha Jaura village, which he manages. Several other members of the managing committee of this shrine were also accused of similar charges.
In February, the Jathedar had declared Baldev Singh and eight other members of the committee “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct). While Baldev Singh and two others, Narinder Singh and Paramjit Singh, refused to appear before Takht Sahib, the other six were pardoned after they appeared before the highest Sikh presidium early this month.
Takht Sri Patna Sahib Clash
When Jathedar was asked a questions regarding Makkar’s decision to dissolve the 15-member managing committee of Takht Patna Sahib, he said, “Both sides are at fault”.
The two sides that the Jathedar refused to name are the two factions of the Patna Sahib managing committee. While one of the factions has sacked Giani Iqbal Singh as jathedar of the Takht, the other faction has come out in his support.
