Amritsar (TIP)- Amid the ongoing tussle between the Akal Takht and Shiromani Akali Dal, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Friday, March 7, removed Giani Raghbir Singh as the Jathedar of the Akal Takht.
The decision to remove Raghbir Singh was taken by the executive committee of the SGPC, headed by vice president Raghujit Singh Virk in the absence of Harjinder Singh Dhami, who had resigned from the position of the president last month. The executive committee also removed Giani Sultan Singh as the acting Jathedar of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib. This comes after SGPC removed Giani Harpreet Singh as the Jathedar of the Takht Damdama Sahib last month.
With the March 7 development, three Sikh Jathedars, who had ordered then SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal’s removal as the party president, declared him ‘Tankhaiya (sinner)’ and announced a series of punishments against him and other Akali Dal leaders, have been removed.
Virk said in a statement that Giani Raghbir Singh was removed from his position for having failed to “adequately” guide the Sikh community and take a firm stance on critical matters. “His inconsistent statements and reluctance to address serious incidents impacting Sikh values and morality led to disappointment among the Sikh Sangat,” he said.
Giani Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj has now been appointed as the Jathedar of Takht Keshgarh Sahib, and given the additional charge as Jathedar of Akal Takht. Baba Tek Singh, head of Bunga Mastuana, Damdama Sahib has been appointed as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib.
The Akal Takht is the highest temporal body of the Sikhs, while the SGPC regulates the functioning of all historical gurdwaras in Punjab, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh. Both bodies are the upholders of the Sikh maryada, or Sikh code of conduct.
Takht Damdama Sahib and Takht Keshgarh Sahib are among the four other seats of temporal authority of the Sikhs, each of which is headed by a SGPC-appointed Jathedar.
Virk added in the statement that the Akal Takht is the supreme authority of Miri Piri (Sikh doctrine of close relationship between religion and politics), established by Guru Hargobind Sahib, and remains the spiritual and political centre of Sikh governance. “However, in the face of growing challenges, the leadership of former Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh was deemed inadequate in guiding the Panth and addressing contemporary issues effectively,” he said.
The SGPC vice president highlighted concerns over increasing divisions within Sikh institutions, rising threats to Sikh identity worldwide, and the alleged failure of the former Jathedar to take a firm stance on critical Panthic matters.
“In this era of globalisation, the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib must provide clear, unwavering leadership to safeguard Sikh interests. Unfortunately, Giani Raghbir Singh’s inconsistent approach has weakened Panthic unity instead of strengthening it. Given these serious shortcomings, the executive committee decided to retire him from the post of Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib,” he said.