Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) on Friday ruled out removal of five high priests of five Takhts which the ‘Panj Pyaras’ (five beloved preachers) had demanded and created a confrontation within the clergy.
Meanwhile, Sikh organisations and hardliners have called a ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ (congregation of Sikhs) on November 10 at Amritsar to deliberate on issues related to the community.
SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar ruled out honouring the ‘Gurmata’ (religious edict) recently issued by the ‘Panj Pyaras’ seeking removal of head priests of the Takhts, including the Akal Takth.
“Jathedars wouldn’t be removed,” Mr. Makkar said, setting at rest the speculation on removal of the Jathedars, including Akal Takht head Gyani Gurbachan Singh.
He said rumours were being spread on social media with regard to removal of the Jathedars and the appointment of new faces.
On October 23, ‘Panj Pyaras’ had asked the SGPC to remove the Jathedars of all Takhts forthwith for the “flip-flop” over pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
A march by several religious preachers and hardliners, seeking removal of Jathedars from five Takhts, were on Friday prevented by police from heading towards Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s residence here.
The ‘Panthic’ march was stopped at Mohali by the Punjab Police, officials said here.
Preachers and hardliners, including Ranjit Singh Dhaddrianwale, Panthpreet Singh, Baljit Singh Daduwal, Karnail Singh Peermohammad and Sikhs, were marching towards the CM’s residence to seek removal of the five Jathedars.
Amid growing unrest over the incidents of sacrilege in the state, the protesters reiterated their demand to arrest the “real culprits” behind sacrilege act.
Meanwhile, the protesters squatted on a road in Mohali and sought immediate release of the two brothers, Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh, who were arrested for their alleged involvement in two of the sacrilege incidents at Bargari village in Faridkot district of Punjab.
