US Sikh leader backs Akal Takht edict

CHANDIGARH, Jan 23: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gurcharan Singh Tohra got a shot in the arm with Didar Singh Bains,...

CHANDIGARH, Jan 23: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gurcharan Singh Tohra got a shot in the arm with Didar Singh Bains, convener of the Akali Dal in North America maintaining that the Akal Takht Hukamnama (edict) could not be questioned.

The Hukamnama ordering truce between the warring factions of the ruling Akali Dal in Punjab till April 15 next was issued from Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat symbolising Sikh philosophy, last month. As it provided reprieve to beleaguered Tohra, the members of the SGPC loyal to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal questioned the edict and appealed to Akal Takht chief Bhai Ranjit Singh to reconsider it.

Bains, who is currently visiting Punjab, met Badal here and Bhai Ranjit Singh at Amritsar on Friday.

A former protagonist of Khalistan, he has been supporting Badal and his political line of late. He is opposed to use of violence as instrument of conflict resolution.

Talking to the media persons after a meeting of the recentlyconstituted Indian Overseas Foundation headed by Jaswant Singh Mann, Bains justified the edict saying it had been issued to keep the Sikhs united in view of the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations. He said the entire world was watching the Sikhs as to how they celebrate the historic event in April next.

Bains said Tohra should not be sacked from the presidentship of the SGPC just 15 before the celebrations and allowed to continue gracefully till the mega event of the community.

“I fully abide by the Hukamnama,” said the overseas Sikh leader adding “The Akal Takht Jathedar is supreme” and he was not above the Jathedar.

Story continues below this ad

He denied having discussed the Akali Dal factional fight with Bhai Ranjit Singh on Friday or having met him as emissary of Badal. He also distanced himself from the reports that he had discussed the affairs of Takht Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Prof. Manjit Sinmgh with the Akal Takht Jathedar.

Bains also opposed those questioning the Hukamnama on Langar which have divided theoverseas Sikh community. In several gurdwaras in the West, the community meal is served on tables and chairs which has now been banned.

He said those who had been opposing the Hukamnama on langar which was in accordance with the Sikh maryada (religious code) would realise it within the next one or two years.

The stand taken by Bains extended full support to the Hukamnama on maintaining status quo in the Akali Dal is a set back to Badal as his supporters have been moving fast to oust Tohra from the presidentship of the SGPC.

Story continues below this ad

Meanwhile, 24 members of the US Congress have written to the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization Service for the grant of visa to Bhai Ranjit Singh arguing “his status in Sikhism is similar to that of the Pope”. The Jathedar was to visit USA earlier this month but his visa was cancelled.