:dateline:The SGPC appointed acting Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh come across a major embarrassment on October 31 when a Dal Khalsa leader refused to accept �Siropao� (robe of honor) from him during the martyrdom anniversary program of Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh held at Sri Harmandir Sahib.
Sources have informed that Dal Khalsa�s spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh and a Panthik leader Jarnail Singh Sakhira were asked to receive �Siropao� from the SGPC appointed Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on the behalf of Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh, Shaheed Bhai Satwant Singh and Shaheed Kehar Singh but the duo refused to do so and walked out from Gurdwara Jhanda Bunga Sahib.
On being approached by media, Kanwarpal Singh clarified that he had no personal issues with Giani Harpreet Singh but the latter won�t get due recognition as the Sikh Panth was not taken into confidence while appointing him.
�Unless the norms and principles for appointing the Jathedar are defined, we cannot accept the puppet Jathedar handpicked by a group of people just to please their political bosses. So, we refused to be honored and left the venue,� he added.
