Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Mar 17: Endorsing the resolution passed at a recent ‘Panthic gathering’ organized by Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal in Anandpur Sahib, a council of gurdwara committees in Mumbai has written to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), rejecting its decision to remove jathedars and make new appointments.

In a letter signed by Jaspal Singh Sidhu, chairman of the supreme council of Navi Mumbai Gurdwaras, the council expressed concern over the legitimacy of the SGPC’s decision. “The Sikh sangat (community) has voiced concerns over the legitimacy and process of appointing and removing jathedars, which should be in accordance with gurmat traditions and Panthic sentiments,” the letter stated.

The council categorically rejected the appointments of Kuldeep Singh Gargaj as jathedar of Akal Takht and Baba Tek Singh Dhanaula as jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib.

Meanwhile, various Sikh organizations under the banner of Panthic Talmel Sangathan also wrote to the SGPC executive committee, demanding the reversal of the decision and the establishment of clear rules for appointing jathedars, said Jaswinder Singh, co-convenor of the Panthic Talmel Sangathan and a former SGPC member.

On March 7, the SGPC had dismissed Giani Raghbir Singh as jathedar of Akal Takht and Giani Sultan Singh as jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, nearly four weeks after removing Giani Harpreet Singh as jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib.

Nihang leaders, who held a meeting under the leadership of Shiromani Panth Akali Buddha Dal chief Baba Balbir Singh at Gurdwara Shaheedi Bagh in Anandpur Sahib, also voiced opposition to the SGPC’s move. They declared that they would neither invite the newly appointed jathedars to their events nor attend their functions until “moral standards” were upheld. They further demanded the reinstatement of the removed jathedars.