The Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs, has rejected the “re-conversion” on December 30 of 128 persons to the faith, saying the proper procedure was not followed.
Ghar vapsi would not be acceptable unless the Sikh tenets were followed, the Takht has said, warning against any such attempts in the future.
Jathdedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said on Wednesday that before reconverting to Sikhism, the persons should have approached the Takht for repentance. The five Singh Sahibs would have pronounced tankah (religious service) and laid down the procedure to be followed.
While the Dharam Jagran Manch said Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Avtar Singh Makkar was happy with the development, the apex body clarified that it was not associated with the re-conversion.
Jathdedar Giani Gurbachan Singh of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs, said on Wednesday said the Dharam Jagran Manch, seen as a front of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, was not authorised to convert anyone to Sikhism. In 2004, the Takht had issued an edict, asking the Sikhs to stay away from the activities of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, another RSS offshoot.
He objected to the Takht not being involved in, or informed of, the ceremony at the Baba Jeevan Singh Gurdwara at Guru ki Wadali village near Chheharta in Amritsar and ordered a probe into the incident.
The Jathedar said Sikhism was against the use of any allurement or coercion to effect conversion. Guru Tegh Bahadur, he pointed out, had sacrificed his life to oppose the forcible conversion of Hindus to Islam during the Mughal rule.
