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Journalism of Courage
CHANDIGARH, JAN 25: In a significant move, the World Sikh Council today came out against the move to reconsider the Hukumnama (edict) issued by the Akal Takht and termed the appeal by members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to the Akal Takht to reconsider it as “harmful”.
While stating that according to traditions, a hukumnama issued by the Akal Takht cannot be withdrawn, it resolved that functions of the Khalsa tercentenary should be celebrated under the auspices and patronage of the Akal Takht.
The resolutions acquire importance as the Five Sikh priests are scheduled to hold a meeting at Amritsar tomorrow to reconsider the hukumnama in view of the signature campaign by SGPC members. Apart from expressing their full support towards the authority of the Akal Takht, the resolutions would also lend support to the Tohra camp.
Earlier 131 members of the SGPC has appealed for a reconsideration of the Hukumnama issued by the Akal Takht on December 31 last,which had asked the warring factions of the Akali Dal to defer their actions till April 15 in light of the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa.
It castigated the SGPC members by stating that it is the SGPC members who are responsible for following the hukumnama as well as ensuring its compliance by Sangat (community). The former Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice (Retd.) Kuldip Singh who is the president of the Council was among those who attended the meeting. Significantly, Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, acting president of the SGPC who has just been suspended from the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and Didar Singh Bains, convenor of the Akali Dal in North America also attended the meeting.
The committee also resolved that the authority of the Akal Takht cannot be questioned as it is vested with the authority for issuing hukumnama on religious, political, social, individual and such other matters in the interest of the Panth.
Stating that the Hukumnama issued by the Akal Takhton December 31 must be followed in letter and spirit by all Sikh institutions, it took serious note of the report concerning the withdrawal of the Hukumnama by a large section of SGPC members and termed it as regrettable and harmful to the Panth.
According to Brig (Retd) Gurdip Singh, Secretary General of the WSC, among those who attended the meeting are Baldev Singh Sibia, former president of SGPC, Gurdip Singh, Secretary General of WSC, Ram Singh, Director General, Prabjot Kaur. Regional Committee Chairmen of Amritsar, Kulbir Singh, Maj Gen (Retd) Narinder Singh of Chandigarh and Harbhajan Singh of Delhi also participated.
