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Time of India

Damdami Taksal pushes for panth-wide consensus for jathedar appointments to avoid controversies

Amritsar: After successfully pressuring the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to withhold officiating Akal Takhr jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj from delivering a message during the Operation Bluestar anniversary ceremony over objections to his controversial appointment, Damdami Taksal (Chowk Mehta) has announced plans to push for a formal 'panth parvanat' procedure for selecting jathedars. Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, chief of Damdami Taksal, said the appointment of jathedars should involve consultation with all Sikh sects, Nihang organisations, Singh Sabhas, federations, and other Sikh bodies to prevent disputes. He added that he intends to engage with all Panthic organisations soon to discuss a unified selection process. "It is only when decisions are made without Panthic consensus that controversies arise," Baba Harnam Singh said, emphasising that collective approval from the Sikh Panth would eliminate future conflicts. He further stressed that retirement or removal of jathedars should also be conducted with due respect and dignity, calling for lasting solutions to the recurring issues surrounding these appointments. Baba Harnam Singh urged the SGPC to ensure broad-based agreement among Sikh organisations for all future appointments. Addressing the demand that the officiating jathedar should not deliver the customary address or honour the martyrs, he declined to claim this as a victory, saying such an attitude would reflect ego, which is unacceptable in the house of the Guru. Noting the significance of this year's ceremony, he said, "Since June 1984, this is the first time the Panth conducted the martyrdom ceremony with great peace, goodwill, and unity—without the brandishing of swords." He also praised SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami for his wisdom, patience, and foresight in preventing conflict during the event. "There should be no internal clashes within the Panth while commemorating the martyrs. Today, a message was sent across the world that the entire Sikh Panth peacefully and respectfully remembered the martyrs of June 1984 at Akal Takht," Baba Harnam Singh concluded. MSID:: 121674565 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !