Latest news with #TakhtPatnaSahib
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: SGPC panel meets Takht Patna Sahib mgmt over edict dispute
In an effort to resolve the ongoing controversy stemming from the rejection of an edict issued by the Akal Takht, a delegation from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) met with the management committee of Takht Sri Patna Sahib on Thursday. The meeting aimed to address the discord caused after the Panj Pyare (five beloved ones) of Takht Patna Sahib opposed the directive from the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism. The SGPC delegation included senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk, members Gurcharan Singh Grewal and Gurbachan Singh Karmunwala, and assistant secretary Jaswinder Singh Jassi. The team was constituted by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami specifically to engage in dialogue with the leadership of the Bihar-based Takht and seek a resolution to the conflict. Speaking after the meeting, SGPC member Gurcharan Singh Grewal stated that the differences following the Akal Takht's edict had significantly impacted the Sikh community. 'To address the situation, the SGPC chief formed this committee to hold discussions with the Takht Patna Sahib management. The aim is to restore harmony through dialogue,' he said. Grewal added that the Takht Patna Sahib committee had expressed its support for the edict issued by its Panj Pyare. 'We conveyed the SGPC's position, which aligns with the Akal Takht's directive. Despite the disagreement, both sides are committed to resolving the issue amicably,' he stated. The SGPC committee will now prepare and submit a detailed report of the meeting to the SGPC president for further action.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SGPC panel to visit Takht Patna Sahib to settle dispute
A Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) delegation will visit Takht Sri Patna Sahib and hold a discussion with the management there to settle the dispute, a Sikh body spokesperson said on Saturday. A row erupted after Takht Patna Sahib when Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, pointed to defiance of its 2022 decree which had ordered an assessment of Patna Sahib jathedar Baldev Singh's Gurbani recitation skills and the transfer of granthi Gurdial Singh. On May 21, the Panj Pyaras of Takht Patna Sahib declared acting Akal Takht jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and Takht Damdama Sahib head Tek Singh Dhanaula 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) for actions that allegedly hurt the sanctity and dignity of the Takht Patna Sahib. As the confrontation escalated, Panj Pyaras of three Punjab-based temporal seats— Akal Takht, Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Damdama Sahib—passed resolutions against the move. 'SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami constituted a delegation, which includes SGPC's senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk, member Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal and Gurbachan Singh Karmuwala will visit Patna. SGPC assistant secretary Jaswinder Singh Jassi has been appointed as the coordinator of this delegation, the spokesperson added. Providing further details, Satbir Singh, officer on special duty (OSD) to SGPC's chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan, said that the delegation would travel to Takht Sri Harmandar Ji Patna Sahib soon to hold discussions with its management committee and the Panj Pyaras.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Patna Sahib row: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee team to hold talks
Amritsar: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has constituted a delegation that would go to Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib to hold discussions regarding the directives issued by the Panj Pyare (five beloved ones) of the Takht. The instructions were given following a meeting of the five Sikh high priests held at Akal Takht, which issued directions for summoning the jathedar of Takht Patna Sahib and others. The delegation, constituted by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, includes SGPC senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk, member Bhai Gurcharan Singh Garewal, and Gurbachan Singh Karmunwala. Additional secretary Jaswinder Singh Jassi has been appointed as the coordinator. Amritsar: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has constituted a delegation that would go to Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib to hold discussions regarding the directives issued by the Panj Pyare (five beloved ones) of the Takht. The instructions were given following a meeting of the five Sikh high priests held at Akal Takht, which issued directions for summoning the jathedar of Takht Patna Sahib and others. The delegation, constituted by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, includes SGPC senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk, member Bhai Gurcharan Singh Garewal, and Gurbachan Singh Karmunwala. Additional secretary Jaswinder Singh Jassi has been appointed as the coordinator.
Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Sikh institutions at odds as Akal Takht, Patna Sahib exchange jabs, Sukhbir Badal in the mix
IN A surprise move at a special meeting on Wednesday, the five top priests of the Takht Sri Patna Sahib – one of the five Takhts or seats of Sikh temporal power in the country – declared two of its jathedars or head priests 'tankhaiya', or guilty of religious misconduct. The two included Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the recently appointed acting jathedar of the Akal Takht in Amritsar, the highest Sikh temporal seat, and Giani Tek Singh Dhanaula, who heads the Takht Damdama Sahib in Bathinda. 'Giani Gargaj and Tek Singh challenged the constitution (of the Takht Patna Sahib), interfered with the powers of the local management, and issued an edict against the decisions of Takht Patna Sahib,' said a statement from the Takht Patna Sahib. Just hours earlier, the Jathedars of the Akal Takht, Takht Damdama Sahib and Takht Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur, the three Punjab-based takhts, had lifted the ban on the excommunicated ex-Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Ranjit Singh Gohar and imposed bans on a sitting jathedar of the Takht Patna Sahib, Giani Baldev Singh, and another Patna Sahib priest, Gurdial Singh. When this met with opposition by the Takht Sri Patna Sahib, the Akal Takht said that Section 79 of Patna Sahib's Constitution and Bylaws gave it the power to decide on religious matters and that its decision was final. Gohar had been removed as the Patna Sahib Jathedar in August 2022 by the Akal Takht after allegations of embezzlement. However, an internal investigation cleared Gohar, resulting in the lifting of the ban against him by the Akal Takht. As regards Baldev Singh, the Akal Takht said he lacked 'the required skills' to carry out his duties as a priest, including reciting Gurbani, or sacred hymns and texts. The Akal Takht had asked Baldev Singh to 'prove' his skills through video recordings, but the jathedar refused. In a statement, the Akal Takht said this was among several of its directives ignored by the Patna Sahib leadership in recent years. In its counter-order, the Takht Sri Patna Sahib also summoned Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal for allegedly interfering in its functioning. In the past, it has accused the BJP of similar 'interference'. 'Information has come to us that Sukhbir Singh Badal played a role in this interference. He has been asked to present his side,' the statement said, adding that it directed Badal to appear before it within 10 days. The developments come against the backdrop of a series of embezzlement accusations between the current and former Patna Sahib jathedars, Baldev Singh and Gohar, respectively – and have now sparked a conflict between the Akal Takht and the Patna Sahib over their overlapping powers. This has come at an inopportune time for Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh, who has been trying to stamp his authority as the head of the highest Sikh seat of power, in the face of factionalism within Sikh institutions and allegations of political influence being behind his appointment. Kuldeep Singh was appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex body for gurdwara management in Punjab, though the Damdami Taksal, an influential socio-religious organisation formerly aligned with the SAD, had opposed it. This isn't the first clash between the Akal Takht and Patna Sahib. In 2008, the then Patna Sahib jathedar, Giani Iqbal Singh, had claimed the Patna Sahib's supremacy over the Akal Takht and excommunicated then Akal Takht jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti. Iqbal Singh was later found guilty of religious misconduct. So far, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has not taken a side in the current dispute, though he expressed concern over the wrong message being sent to the Sikh community in the clash between the Akal Takht and Patna Sahib. The Patna shrine is, incidentally, partly administered by a department of the Bihar government. Dhami said matters concerning Panthic institutions and issues must be dealt with seriousness and maturity, and that mutual dialogue is the best path forward. 'The entire Sikh world looks up to these institutions and Takhts for inspiration, but the current atmosphere of internal conflict is creating confusion within the community,' he said, adding that as a leader and member of the Sikh community, he will make efforts – both formal and personal – for a prompt resolution. As far as Badal goes, the summons issued by the Patna Sahib is unlikely to damage him politically, even if the SAD chief is vulnerable politically and has been trying to dispel allegations of 'interference' in Sikh institutions for political gain. Last year, owing to alleged religious misconduct during the SAD's tenure in power in Punjab from 2007 and 2017, Badal had been declared tankhaiya and sentenced to religious punishment by the Akal Takht, then led by jathedar Harpeet Singh. In fact, Gohar had come to Badal's defence during this episode and criticised Harpreet Singh's decision.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
After 17 years, another round of confrontation between Akal Takht & Patna sahib clergy
Jalandhar: It is after around 17 years that the clergy of Takht Patna Sahib is coming into direct conflict with the Akal Takht jathedar and other Punjab-based Sikh high priests. When on Wednesday, the Takht Patna Sahib jathedar and four other granthis suddenly declared the Akal Takht acting jathedar and Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct), it was reminiscent of Takht Patna Sahib jathedar, in 2008, declaring Akal Takht jathedar and other Sikh high priests "mahan doshi" (big guilty). That was a protracted phase of confrontation that embarrassed the community and history appears repeating itself once again. Then, Takht Patna Sahib jathedar Iqbal Singh, on Jan 26, 2008, issued an edict in which he challenged the supremacy of Akal Takht, a concept widely accepted by the Sikhs, and claimed that Takht Patna Sahib was supreme. He also excommunicated Takht Patna Sahib managing committee president Mohinder Singh Romana, but that edict was nullified by the Akal Takht. The clergy claimed that the right of excommunication was only with the Akal Takht. He was not allowed to participate in the meetings of the Sikh high priests at the Akal Takht after 2007. He came on his own on June 6, 2008, to participate in a meeting but was not allowed. Four days later, on June 10, 2008, he shocked the community by pronouncing four Singh Sahibans (high priests) — then Akal Takht jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti; then Darbar Sahib head granthi Gurbachan Singh, who later became Akal Takht jathedar; then Kesgarh Sahib jathedar Tarlochan Singh; and then Damdama Sahib jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh and Giani Jagtar Singh, who later became head granthi of Darbar Sahib – "mahan doshi". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo These high priests rejected an earlier edict issued by him on May 10, 2008, declaring former Akal Takht jathedar Prof Darshan Singh "pucca tankhaiya" (almost excommunicated). He even equated the rejection of his edict (on which he got signatures of four other priests of Takht Patna Sahib) with turning away from Guru Gobind Singh and claimed that the Singh Sahibans did this under a deep conspiracy. A couple of months later, Vedanti was relieved of his charge in the first week of Aug 2008, which was also a sudden development. Iqbal not only attended the installation of Giani Gurbachan Singh and offered him a turban on Aug 7, 2008. The latter also started inviting him to the meetings of the Singh Sahibans, and this became an affair as if nothing had happened in the past. Neither Gurbachan Singh nor Iqbal Singh ever clarified what happened to the big conceptual contradictions. Iqbal Singh had no qualms about sitting with the same persons he had declared "mahan doshi". Together they rather issued a few controversial edicts, including unilateral pardon to Sirsa dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in Sept 2015. In Aug 2010, Iqbal Singh once again created controversy by issuing two edicts – one of which appeared to challenge the supremacy of Akal Takht. In the edict issued on Aug 18, written and signed in Hindi, it was announced that only the five Singh Sahibans of Patna Sahib were authorised to decide religious and social issues pertaining to Sikhism. Then Akal Takht jathedar Gurbachan Singh said that the issues would be discussed at the Akal Takht in a meeting of the high priests and an explanation would be sought from Iqbal Singh. However, instead of clearing the air or giving any cogent explanations, controversies were given a quiet burial, reflecting that things were happening in a whimsical manner. Iqbal Singh's tenure remained marred by controversies, and he gave a tough time to the management committee of the Takht Patna Sahib and to the Sikh priests later also. Several in the community found his edicts whimsical. On April 8, Akal Takht barred him from participating in any religious function following quite a few complaints about him. MSID:: 121342683 413 |
