Three Sikh Jathedars excommunicated

By Sarabjit Pandher

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 12. The Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Puran Singh, today handed out yet another `hukumnama', excommunicating three of the designated ``Singh Sahibs'' (apex clerics) - the Jathedar of Takht Keshgarh Sahib, Prof. Manjit Singh, the Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Kewal Singh, and the Head Granthi of Akal Takht, Giani Bhagwan Singh. An SGPC member, Pritam Singh Bhatia, and an advocate, Jaswinder Singh, were also excommunicated. They were held guilty of aligning with the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur.

Tension prevailed at the Golden Temple where the already `excommunicated' SGPC chief was scheduled to appear before the top clergy and accept `tankah' to facilitate her return to the main stream of the community.

The trouble began when the Sant Samaj volunteers, supporting Giani Puran Singh, dislodged the SGPC's task force to lay siege around the Akal Takht. They objected to Bibi Jagir Kaur's entry into the Akal Takht building, arguing that like the 10 members of the Executive Committee, who appeared on February 2, she must present herself at the ground floor in the courtyard facing the Akal Takht building. Bibi Jagir Kaur, who had apprehensions that Giani Puran Singh was not acting according to the mutually agreed formula, turned this down.

Supporters of rival factions clashed both outside and inside the Akal Takht building. There were heated arguments and exchange of blows. With a strong contingent of supporters, Bibi Jagir Kaur broke through the cordon laid around the Akal Takht by the Sant Samaj activists.

At one stage, when Bibi Jagir Kaur was offering prayers inside the building, rivals brandished firearms and advanced threateningly towards each other.

Later, emerging out of the building, Bibi Jagir Kaur told presspersons that it was her precondition that she would only appear before the designated Singh Sahibs and before those who participated in the process of issuing the January 25 edict through which she was excommunicated. She justified her stance, by arguing that she would not accept what was against the religious traditions. She said that the meeting of the SGPC executive would be held as per schedule on March 16.

Prof. Manjit Singh rejected the edicts issued today as well as on January 25. He blamed Giani Puran Singh's stubborn stance for the present impasse. On his part, Giani Bhagwan Singh performed his evening duties as usual, paying no heed to the edict issued against him in the morning.

Following objections from some SGPC executive members to Bibi Jagir Kaur's continuing as the president of the body and the decision by the `sacked' Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh, to organise a `Sarbat Khalsa' (congregation of the community), the Chief Minister, Mr. Prakash Singh Badal's camp proceeded to sort out the matter. Through special emissaries the ruling camp succeeded in softening the stands of Giani Puran Singh and Bibi Jagir Kaur.

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