Suspension of ‘Panj Pyaras’: SGPC indecisive, leaves decision to Makkar

AMRITSAR (TIP): The emergency meeting of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) executive convened after October 21 suspension of the ‘Panj Pyaras’ for their unprecedented summoning the Akal Takht jathedar and four other Sikh head priests turned out to be a stormy affair and ended on an indecisive note here on October 22.

In Mukstar, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh met SGPC members from five districts at Badal village to discuss the prevailing scenario in the state.

At SGPC’s Chandigarh meeting, 14 of the 15 members of the executive authorised SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar to take a decision on the ‘Panj Pyaras’.

It is learnt that a majority of the SGPC executive members were opposed to the suspension of the ‘Panj Pyaras’.

When contacted after the meeting, Makkar was non-committal and said: “There is no immediate decision.”

Earlier, Makkar arrived in a car driven by Dyal Singh Kolianwali, who is close to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, at Kalgidhar Niwas, the meeting venue.

SAD (Amritsar) activists staged a black flag protest outside the venue, demanding Makkar’s resignation.

Nominated SGPC executive member from Amritsar Mangal Singh Sandhu did not attend the meeting. SGPC general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur said, “The situation for Sikhs is a concern. They are being arrested, beaten and injured. This is bad.”

Be the first to comment

The Indian Panorama - Best Indian American Newspaper in New York & Dallas - Comments