Opening front against SGPC, several Sikh outfits and hardline groups on Tuesday convened what they called ‘Sarbat Khalsa’, a grand assembly of Sikhs, here and appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara, the convict in Beant Singh assassination case, as jathedar of Akal Takht.
Apart from Akal Takht, which is the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs, the congregation also “removed” jathedars of two other Takhts–Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Damdama Sahib. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, mini-parliament of Sikh religion, appoints all jathedars (Sikh head priests). The hardliners and some other Sikh groups have been alleging that the ruling Badal family of Punjab controls the SGPC.
The congregation accused the incumbent Sikh head priests, appointed by SGPC, of not keeping up the dignity and traditions of Sikh institutions.
The ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ was organised on Tuesday at Chabba village, about 10 kms from the holy city, to “free” Sikh institutions from political influence.
The gathering was organised to discuss the ouster of Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh and other Sikh priests involved in “pardoning” of Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for his alleged blasphemy in 2007, which triggered violence in Punjab and Harana.
However, SGPC and Akal Takht, Sikhism’s highest religious seat, have refused to term it as ‘Sarbat Khalsa’.
The congregation, in its over seven hour meeting, passed around ten resolutions.
Amrik Singh Ajnala of Damdami Taksal and Baljit Singh Daduwal of United Akali Dal (UAD) were appointed as Head Priests of Takht Keshgarh Sahib and Takht Damdama Sahib respectively.