AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab— Late last night, appointed Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Gurbachan Singh, appeared to be side-stepping having to deal with the backlash from the pardoning of the controversial cult leader Ram Rahim. With all the pressure that had erupted within Sikh circles worldwide, he announced that a formal committee would now be convened.
He highlighted that people ought to send feedback and suggestions to this committee in future. To those present, this seemed to come across as a deflection of his duties, once having caused such a furor. Complainants also made it clear that the need for such a committee was required before the decision to grant the cult leader a pardon was issued, not after.
Numerous organisations have stated that they are not pacified with this development and that the Jathedar’s move is simply one of deflection.
Why is a whole new committee needed to work out that a letter of denial is not the same as an apology?