By Asia Samachar | Panjab |
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has removed jathedars of Akal Takht and Takht Kesgarh Sahib probably for their roles in censuring Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
The removal of Akal Takhat jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Takht Kesgarh jathedar Giani Sultan Singh comes on the heels of the ouster last month of the Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, who was Akal Takht acting jathedar Akal Takht earlier.
The trio were part of the Panj Pyarey that pronounced a tankah on Sukhbir for various “mistakes” committed by the SAD government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017. This led to Sukhbir, the son of two-time Panjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal from a wealthy and politically powerful family, presenting himself at Darbar Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple, to perform ‘seva’.
SEE ALSO: Scripted Dramas, Rehabilitating the Badals, Weaponizing the Akal Takhat and Opening a Can of Worms
At its executive committee yesterday (March 8), the Amritsar-based SGPC sacked Raghbir as Akal Takht jathedar for “failing to guide the Panth and address contemporary issues effectively,” reported Tribune News Service. The same meeting also removed Sultan.
However, Ragbir and Sultan will continue to serve as Darbar Sahib head granthi and granthi, respectively.
Giani Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj will take over as the Kesgarh Jathedar, with an additional charge of officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, while former SAD Barnala district president Tek Singh Dhanaula was made the new jathedar for Takht Damdama Sahib, the report added.
Gargaj, who has an MA in History, has been working as a preacher with the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee for the past two decades. He has also been preaching at a gurdwara in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, according to the Indian Express.
He reportedly has a good command over delivering discourses on Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and explaining key Sikh historical texts such as Sri Gurpratap Suraj Granth and Prachin Panth Prakash, among others. He has also been rendering katha (religious discourse) service in the Diwan Hall of Gurdwara Manji Sahib at Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.
Gargaj has reportedly also been taking care of orphaned Sikh children, supporting their education and well-being, the report added.
The SGPC meeting was chaired by senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk in the absence of president Harjinder Singh Dhami who had submitted his resignation. The decision on the resignation has been kept pending, according to the TNS report.
The spate of removals come some six months after the panj pyarey, led by Raghbir, declared Sukhbir a tankhaiya on Aug 30, 2024.
RELATED STORY:
The Demise of the Akali Dal and the Badal Dynasty: What Next for the Panth? (Asia Samachar, 5 Aug 2024)
Scripted Dramas, Rehabilitating the Badals, Weaponizing the Akal Takhat and Opening a Can of Worms (Asia Samachar, 7 Feb 2025)
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The day Sukhbir Badal appeared before the so-called Jathedars he himself appointed at the Akal Takht as a “humble Sikh”, Was in fact the Jathedar in chief.
He wrote on the same day that this is just a drama, dust is being put in the eyes of the people, but our people were shouting that day too, that you are against Sikhism… Now see were those people were right?
Interesting NO BODY has any view to share?
This was bound to happen, when a fake building is being abused as the “residence” of a god?
When a myth is promoted as the house of god., abd fools in large numbers believe such myth.
No Guru built any Akal Takhat.
What was setup was a raised paladium.
The story of manipulation began with the word akal takhat and jathedar
To complicate further, politics are MIXED into the Psyche and practice of religion , whereby the dividing line between spirituality and politics becomes very blurred, except for manipulators.
The lack of reply to this post is heartbreaking.
The House of Nanak has been infiltrated by government cronies and people that wish to destroy Sikhs in league with thr Badal family . We should be fighting back, we have to organize and either retake the Akali Dal and force through the changes we need to see like finally separating the government from the running of Gurduaras or reorganize into a new political force. We can’t stand by and let this be done to us.But we will do.
Because we have no sat policy of operation.
When it suits a jathedar is appointed, and the same time
If he turns unsatisfactory to the same politicians , he is terminated.
This not the end of the circus…
Interesting NO BODY has any view to share?
This was bound to happen, when a fake building is being abused as the “residence” of a god?
To complicate further, politics are MIXED into the Psyche and practice, whereby the dividing line between spirituality and politics becomes very blurred, except for manipulators.
More later
Sad and embarrassing for the Sikh Community worldwide in particular Punjab. Politicians are still interfering in the matters of Religion. 1 Particular family in power for years treating SGPC like their own property and not in service of Panth. May Waheguru bless them all.
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