Hardliners snub acting Akal Takht Jathedar 

Amritsar, October 31

A day after he took charge as Akal Takht’s acting Jathedar, Giani Harpreet Singh was on Wednesday snubbed by hardliners during the SGPC programme in memory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassins Beant Singh, Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh.

As close relatives of the trio did not turn up for the event held in the Golden Temple complex, head priest Giani Jagtar Singh asked leaders of the Dal Khalsa and the SAD (Amritsar) to accept a ‘siropa’ from the Jathedar on the behalf of the families.

However, Dal Khalsa’s Kanwarpal Singh Bittu and SAD (Amritsar) general secretary Jarnail Singh Sakhira staged a walkout. 

Later, Bittu said they had no personal issues with the present incumbent of Akal Takht. He said the new Jathedar would not get due recognition as the Sikh Panth was not taken into confidence while making the appointment.

“Unless the norms and principles for appointing the Jathedar are defined, we cannot accept the puppet Jathedar handpicked by a group of people just to please their political bosses. So, we refused to be honoured and left the venue,” he added.

Akal Takht had bestowed the title of martyrs on Beant Singh, Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh.

Earlier, Giani Jagtar Singh addressed the gathering which attended the ‘bhog’ of ‘akhand path’ in the Golden Temple complex. Hazoori Ragi Bhai Kuldeep Singh performed ‘gurbani kirtan’. ‘Ardas’ was recited by Bhai Kulwinder Singh. Satwant Singh’s nephew Sukhwinder Singh received a siropa.

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