Nothing has changed — Jathedar

AMRITSAR, MARCH 1: Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Puran Singh on Wednesday categorically stated that he had no intention of quitting his post i...

AMRITSAR, MARCH 1: Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Puran Singh on Wednesday categorically stated that he had no intention of quitting his post in case SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur refused to appear before him at the Takht. He ruled out any possibility of his January 25 ‘hukumnama’ being withdrawn in the wake of Monday’s developments.

In a significant move, Bibi Jagir Kaur stayed away from the World Sikh Council (WSC) executive meeting held on Wednesday at Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Puran Singh’s residence here though the Akal Takht was the original venue. The participants came directly to the Jathedar’s residence after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple, WSC secretary general Jaswant Singh Mann claimed while addressing newspersons at the Jathedar’s residence.

Giani Puran Singh, who too was present, claimed that there had been no move on the part of the SGPC to prevent the meeting from being held at the Akal Takht. Asked about Bibi Jagir Kaur’s absence, he replied that she could not attend the meeting as she was ex-communicated.

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"I am not a coward," the Jathedar said when asked by newspersons whether he would resign if the ex-communicated SGPC chief remained adamant on her stance that she would not appear before him.

The Jathedar said that he still stood by his January 25 hukamnama ex-communicating Bibi Jagir Kaur from the Sikh ‘panth’ for defying his earlier directive. In the directive, Puran Singh had stayed the implementation of the Nanakshahi calendar. "Bibi Jagir Kaur can only be absolved if she appears before the Takht," he insisted.

Asked to comment on views expressed by the SGPC president’s supporters that the SGPC Chief had exonerated herself by appearing at the Akal Takht on Monday, Giani Puran Singh said her appearance was against the Sikh ‘maryada’.

"By simply going to the Akal Takht and offering ‘ardas’, an ex-communicated individual could not be absolved," he noted.

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Former Union ministers Surjit Singh Barnala and Buta Singh – both of whom were once ex-communicated – adopted certain procedures for their re-entry into the Sikh panth.

"Bibi Jagir Kaur should first approach the Akal Takht with a written request for appearance. Then the date and time of her appearance would be fixed by the ‘Singh sahibs’," he added.

The Jathedar ruled out the possibility of withdrawing the hukamnama, saying that a directive once issued by the Akal Takht had never been taken back.

A significant decision taken at the WSC meeting was to endorse the NDA government’s move to review the constitution. A resolution adopted said that the WSC would provide all help and assistance to the review committee.

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Besides Giani Puran Singh, who is the patron of the council by virtue of being the Jathedar, others who attended the meeting were Jaswant Singh Mann, Delhi-based Akali leader Avtar Singh Hit, Dr Darshan Singh from Punjab Health Services, former legislator Talib Singh Sandhu and Giani Bachittar Singh.

A notable absentee at the WSC meet was the former WSC chairman Justice Kuldip Singh. Other absentees included Akali Dal (Badal) general secretary Kirpal Singh Bhadungar, Dr Balkar Singh of Punjabi University, US-based Didar Singh and Mota Singh from England. Mann claimed that Dr Balkar Singh and Bhandungar had given their written consent for holding the meeting.