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Time of India
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Denied rites at gurdwara after mother's death, says Sikh family in Germany
Amritsar: A Sikh family has alleged that Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Singen, Germany, refused them the right to perform Bhog and Antim Ardas there after the death of their mother. The grieving family has approached Akal Takht, seeking the intervention of the Jathedar, even as the Singen gurdwara management said that the family was stopped from entering the gurdwara on the directions of local police. The controversy has sent shockwaves through the Sikh diaspora. Balwinder Singh, a resident of Singen for over four decades, said that brothers Daljit Singh and Paramjit Singh approached the local gurdwara to hold the Antim Ardas and Bhog ceremony for their mother, but the management denied them. The letter, written by the 'entire Sikh sangat' of Singen, says, "Regrettably, due to personal grudges, the current gurdwara committee denied permission to hold this religious ceremony. This decision is not only unjust and against Sikh values, but also a clear violation of Sikh Rehat Maryada (Sikh code of religious conduct) and Gurmat principles." Balwinder Singh said that the sangat spoke with the gurdwara management committee and asked them to reconsider, reminding them of the core Sikh values of compassion and inclusion. "But the committee didn't listen or show any intention to resolve the issue with understanding or care," he alleged. Davinder Singh, president of Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Singen, told TOI that the management committee stopped the family from holding the ceremony on directions from the local police. He claimed that the persons involved had previously clashed with members of the sangat and caused disturbances, prompting police to advise the management not to allow them entry to the gurdwara. Balwinder Singh said that the family brought a granthi from another Gurdwara, nearly 150km away, to perform the Antim Ardas and Bhog. "We have now requested the Jathedar of Akal Takht to investigate the incident, summon the gurdwara management to the Akal Takht, and deliver justice," he said. MSID:: 123016954 413 |
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Religious row erupts between Akal Takht, Takht Patna Sahib, SGPC urges mutual dialogue for resolution
CHANDIGARH: A religious dispute has escalated between the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, and Takht Patna Sahib, after the Panj Pyare (five beloved ones) of Takht Patna Sahib defied a decree issued by the Akal Takht. They declared its acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and Takht Damdama Sahib head Tek Singh Dhanaula as 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) for actions allegedly hurting the sanctity and dignity of Takht Patna Sahib. In response, the Akal Takht Secretariat today ordered the Takht Patna Sahib management to withdraw this decision or face stern action. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has stepped in, stating that internal differences among Sikh supreme institutions are not in the interest of the Panth (community), and that mutual dialogue is the best path forward. A statement issued by the Akal Takht Secretariat reads, 'According to Sikh Rehat Maryada, Akal Takht Sahib is the highest among the five Takhts, and its decisions and orders are binding on all Takht Sahibs and the entire Sikh community. No group of Panj Pyaras from any Takht Sahib has the authority to question the supremacy of Akal Takht Sahib.' 'Takht Patna Sahib can take decisions related to local existing maryada, rituals and doctrines, but Akal Takht Sahib has full authority to deliberate on disputes related to religious matters and its opinion and decisions are considered final,' the statement further said. The Panj Pyare of Takht Patna Sahib yesterday held the temporal heads of Akal Takht Giani Gargaj and Damdama Sahib Tek Singh guilty of 'religious misconduct' and also summoned Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal for allegedly meddling in Takht affairs. The Takht Patna Sahib issued this strong reaction after five Sikh priests, including Gargaj and Singh, had summoned the entire management panel of the Patna Sahib shrine over 'non-compliance' of earlier orders from the Akal Takht.
