Pushback to Amritpal Singh: Jathedar calls ‘special gathering’ on April 7 at Damdama Sahib, mum on ‘Sarbat Khalsa’

“In order to analyse everything, Jathedar, with a larger responsibility to protect the interests of people, and in order to focus on religious preaching, contribution of Sikh media, right to expression, challenges ahead of the Sikh media and the future strategies, has called a special gathering on April 7 at 11 am at Takht Damdama Sahib.

This gathering will be addressed by journalists dedicated to the panth, Punjab and Punjabiyat, read the message adding that “entire Sikh and Punjabi journalism linked brothers and sisters should take part in this gathering”.
Meanwhile, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Friday said that the convening of a “Sarbat Khalsa” is the sole prerogative of the Akal Takht chief. “It is personal wish of Amritpal Singh…. To call or not to call ‘sarbat khalsa’ is the sole prerogative of Akal Takht jathedar and no one else,” said SGPC general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal.

Since the jathedar is leading the Sikh community, he takes each decision with deep thought followed by the opinions of Sikh scholars and intellectuals, Grewal said. “The jathedar would see what needs to be done in the light of prevailing circumstances…. There is no doubt that many Sikhs who are close to Amritpal were arrested under the National Security Act which is also a matter of grave concern,” he said.

Grewal said, “Recently there was a gathering of 100 Sikh organisations at Akal Takht on the call of the Jathedar on March 27. The sole agenda of the gathering was to discuss the situation which developed after the police crackdown.

After the marathon meeting, the Jathedar issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Punjab government to release Sikh youths who were arrested, and the impact was significant”.

Sikh scholar Baljinder Singh said Sarbat Khalsa cannot be called on the wish of an individual. He, however, said if the Jathedar has to call a “sarbat khalsa” he has to do so after a series of meetings with Sikh scholars and intellectuals and see whether it is needed or not. It may be mentioned here that the last “sarbat khalsa” was held on February 16, 1986 when Gyani Kirpal Singh was the Jathedar of the Akal Takht. Prior to that, the SGPC executive committee in its meeting on January 28, 1986 had raised the demand for it. “Sarbat khalsa” was also called two other times by radical Sikhs through their self-styled Jathedars in 1986 and 2015.