CHANDIGARH, Feb 12: Forty-seven gurdwaras and seven Sikh organisations based abroad have condemned the act of removal of the Jathedar of Akal Takht by 10 members of the executive of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and stated that they continue to recognise Bhai Ranjit Singh as the Jathedar of Akal Takht.The support to Bhai Ranjit Singh comes from 25 Gurdwaras affiliated with Ontario Gurudwaras Committee, 22 Gurdwaras affiliated with World Sikh Council, apart from some individual organisations. In a press statement, Bhajan Singh, secretary of the Sikh Youth of America stated that there were almost nine million Sikhs who do not fall under the jurisdiction of the SGPC and they would not accept any Jathedar appointed by the Punjab government.The chairman of the Ontario Gurudwara Committee, Harbahajan Singh Pandori and Kuldeep Singh, Chairman of World Sikh Council (American Region) has also condemned the removal and has criticised the reported entry of ``plain-clothed police'' in the Golden temple complex. He has also stated that since the Jathedar of Akal Takht is the leader of the entire Sikh panth, any decision about his position should be taken after consultation with the Sikhs settled in America.Others who have condemned the removal of Bhai Ranjit Singh by the 10 member SGPC executive committee include Akbir Kaur of Sikh Organisation of California, Gurmej Singh of United Sikh Human Rights Defence Committee, Harjot Singh, member, Supreme Council of Gurdwara Sahib, San Francisco, Davinder Singh, Secretary of Sahibzada Fateh Singh Society, Kuldeep Singh of Ujjaldidar Singh Trust and Satnam Singh, president of Kalgidhar Gatka Dal.
