Amritsar, May 22 - The decision taken yesterday by the Panj Pyare Sahibs of Takht Sri Patna Sahib has been rejected by the Panj Pyares of Sri Akal Takht, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, terming it unprincipled and unfair.
Acting Jathedar of Takht Sri Patna Sahib Giani Baldev Singh held a meeting with the chief Granthi and Granthis of the Takht on Wednesday and rejected the decision taken by the Akal Takht. He had declared Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Tek Singh Dhanaula as salaried. In the same case, Sukhbir Singh Badal was accused of being involved as a conspirator and was given 10 days to present his side. In this regard, he has been ordered to appear before Takht Sri Patna Sahib and give clarification.
In this matter, the Panj Pyare Sahibs of Akal Takht including Bhai Kulwant Singh, Bhai Sukhdev Singh, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh, Bhai Raspal Singh and Bhai Sandeep Singh held a meeting here today and termed the decision taken by the Panj Pyare Sahibs of Takht Sri Patna Sahib as destroying the Panthic unity and tarnishing the image of the Sikh community. They have rejected the decision taken by the Granthi Singhs of Takht Sri Patna Sahib the previous day, calling it unprincipled.
Similarly, the Panj Pyare Sahibs of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib and the Panj Pyare Sahibs of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Talwandi Sabo have also rejected the decision taken by the Granthi Singhs of Takht Sri Patna Sahib. Citing the Sikh code of conduct, they said that appeals against the decisions of the local Sangat can be made only in Sri Akal Takht and no separate Hukamnama can be issued in this regard. If the local community has any objection to any decision, an appeal can be made in Akal Takht for reconsideration. He said that the five beloved Sahibans of Takht Sri Patna Sahib should appear before Sri Akal Takht as soon as possible and apologize and withdraw the decision they have taken. The Panth will not tolerate such anti-Sikh action and has rejected this decision, calling it anti-Panth and unprincipled.
Apart from this, in a statement issued by the Secretary of Sri Akal Takht, it has been said that the matter of Takht Sri Patna Sahib, which was discussed by the five Singh Sahibans yesterday, is not today's matter but a matter of two-three years ago. In this matter, the action taken by the five beloved Sahibans of Takht Sri Patna Sahib has been rejected, terming it wrong in principle.
It is worth noting that in the meeting of the five Singh Sahibans held at Sri Akal Takht on Wednesday, the matter of allegations against former Jathedar Giani Ranjit Singh Gauhar of Takht Sri Patna Sahib was discussed. A report of this had reached Sri Akal Takht, after which former Jathedar Giani Gauhar was acquitted in the light of this investigation report. In another separate case, the services of Jathedars Giani Baldev Singh and Giani Gurdial Singh were suspended and the president and other officials of the Takht Sri Patna Sahib Management Committee were summoned to the Akal Takht to present their case.