Sikh Sevak Society International State President Jathedar Parminder Pal Singh Khalsa said that Akal Takht Sahib is the supreme institution of the Sikh Panth, from where Gurmat is born, which is the duty of every Sikh brother and sister. But alas! These days, the unprincipled decisions of the Jathedars have destroyed the historical and theoretical existence of this great institution. He said that the May 21 Hukamnama of Takht Sri Patna Sahib, in which Sukhbir Singh Badal, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, Baba Tek Singh and others were declared ‘Tankhahiya’, has made a despicable attempt to tear apart the bridge of unity of the Sikh Panth. Jathedar Khalsa said with deep concern that Sukhbir Singh Badal should follow the orders of Akal Takht, and not the misleading decisions of Patna Sahib. Sukhbir should not go on the invitation of Patna Sahib, because Patna Sahib does not have the right to summon Sukhbir, this area belongs only to Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Jathedar Khalsa reminded the Akal Takht Hukamnama of 19 November 2003, which clearly states that the customs of the five Takhts are different, but decisions on issues of the entire Panth will be taken only in the meeting of the five Jathedars at the Akal Takht. The ‘Panj Pyare’ of Patna Sahib declaring Sukhbir Badal, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj and Baba Tek Singh ‘Tankhahiya’ is like trampling on Sikh traditions. Similarly, the Jathedar of Akal Takht should have discussed the issue of Giani Gargajj in conjunction with the Patna Sahib management committee, and not passed a decision alone. This is a violation of Gurmat, which gave an opportunity to the anti-Panth and the government to intervene.
He said that if the crisis of the dispute between the thrones is not resolved, then the tradition of dignity and respect of the Akal Takht will be destroyed. The responsibility for this will fall on the President of the Shiromani Committee Harjinder Singh Dhami, who could not resolve this issue and created a crisis for the Panth. He said that Dhami should leave his post and hand over the leadership of the Shiromani Committee to an intelligent Shiromani Committee member, who will bring glory to the name of the Panth.
Jathedar Khalsa suggested that the Jathedar of the Akal Takht should convene a representative Panthic gathering and form a committee of intelligent Sikhs, which will resolve this dispute. Also, the procedure for the appointment, retirement and qualifications of the Jathedars of all the Takht Sahibans should be decided soon. It is regrettable that even now only the appointment of the Jathedar of the Akal Takht is being discussed, the appointments of the other thrones are being ignored.
He said that the Shiromani Committee, which claims to carry the flag of service to Sikhs, is now seen sitting in the lap of the Deredars. The Shiromani Committee has destroyed the Sikh Panth by increasing the participation of the Deredars in the Akal Takht’s rules and regulations and in the centennial committees. Panth-approved organizations like Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Sikh Missionary College are being ignored, which has caused a great loss to the political roots of the Akali Dal. Jathedar Khalsa, in a deep taunt, said that the Deredars’ challenge to the morals of the Akal Takht, not banning gutkas that challenge the Mool Mantra and Sikh Rehat morals in the market, and the participation of Deredars in Panthic organizations – all this is an act that cuts the roots of the Panth. The traditions of the Deredars do not match the Sikh Panth, they are contrary to the Sikh traditions. Labor is important in Sikh history and the Guru tradition, not the Deredars. Deras and Maths are associated with the Sanatani tradition, but the Shiromani Committee is a class of the Guru Panth, which was not born of the Math tradition but was born from the spirit and struggle of the Khalsa Panth, which was against Dervish in the form of the Singh Sabha movement.
