The Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) appointed Giani Kuldeep Singh Gadagj as Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Shri Anandpur Sahib despite opposition from Nihangas and other Sikh organizations.
There was a possibility of heavy opposition to this appointment, due to which the time of coronation was changed and he was made Jathedar at around 2:45 am. Whereas, earlier the ceremony was to be held on the day.
Not only this, the head Granthi of Darbar Sahib Amritsar also kept distance from this entire program and did not send it to the needs (turban) required for the coronation. Apart from this, Giani Kuldeep Singh was also entrusted with the responsibility of executive jathedar of Akal Takht.
The historic record of the Indian team led by Rohit Sharma, this has never happened before in the cricket world
Opposition to SGPC’s decision, Akali Dal and Nihangas expressed anger
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is against this decision.
Senior Akali leaders Bikram Singh Majithia and Balwinder Singh Bhundad strongly condemned the dismissal of the Jathedars of Akal Takht and Takht Shri Kesgarh Sahib.
Statements were issued against this decision by some leaders of SGPC and SAD.
CM Bhagwant Mann expressed objection, SGPC accused of vengeance
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemned the removal of Jathedars and called it a vengeance action.
He said:
“This is a religious matter, politics should learn from religion, but now politics is affecting religion.”
Mann targeted Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and other leaders and said:
“At first he accepted his mistakes, took religious punishment (salary) and now removing the Jathedars. This seems to be a completely revenge politics. “
Background of SGPC’s decision – Why increased controversy?
On December 2 last year, the Sikh’s highest religious organization Akal Takht gave religious punishment to the Akali leaders, including Sukhbir Badal.
From 2007 to 2017, this punishment was given for ‘mistakes’ during the tenure of SAD government.
Giani Raghbir Singh, Giani Sultan Singh and Giani Harpreet Singh were among the five Singh Sahibans who had sentenced this sentence.
On 10 February, Giani Harpreet Singh was removed from the Jathedar of Takht Shri Damdama Sahib.
Now, the dispute over the new appointment of Jathedars by SGPC has deepened.
