Sacked Panj Pyaras want apt candidate to head Akal Takht

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 21

A day before the SGPC’s executive body meeting to decide on the resignation of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, the sacked Panj Pyaras (Guru’s five beloved ones) on Sunday said the apex Sikh body should pick a replacement who could match the stature of Akali Phula Singh. During his tenure as the Akal Takht Jathedar, Akali Phula Singh had summoned Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

The Panj Pyaras had been dismissed by the SGPC for questioning the clergy’s flip-flop on pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015 in a blasphemy case.

The Panj Pyaras on Sunday expressed solidarity with former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassin Jagtar Singh Hawara. The latter had been declared parallel Akal Takht Jathedar during the Sarbat Khalsa held here in 2015.

Four of them — Major Singh, Tarlok Singh, Mangal Singh and Satnam Singh Khalsa — assembled at Akal Takht on Sunday, while Satnam Singh Khanda was absent.

Major Singh said Giani Gurbachan Singh had already lost the trust of the Sikh community, adding that he should be relieved at the earliest.

“It would have been in the interests of the Panth had he quit three years ago. He tarnished the sanctity of Akal Takht by becoming a puppet in the hands of political leaders. Other high priests who were party to the decision to pardon the dera head should also quit and pray for atonement at Akal Takht,” he said.

Hawara, who is lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail, had asked the Panj Pyaras to lead the Sarbat Khalsa scheduled at Talwandi Sabo in 2016, but it was later cancelled.