Patna Sahib edict on Sukhbir raises hackles of Akal Takht

Declares Bihar-based Takht’s addl head granthi, two other members of mgmt guilty of religious misconduct, told to seek forgiveness within 15 days

- Surjit Singh

Hours after the “panj pyaras” (five beloved ones of Guru) of Takht Patna Sahib declared Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct) for failing to appear before them, Akal Takht denounced the action of the Bihar-based Sikh temporal seat on Saturday.

The Akal Takht responded by condemning Takht Patna Sahib’s actions and taking firm action against its additional head granthi Gurdial Singh and two members of the management committee, accusing them of conspiring to breach Akal Takht’s authority.

In a highly charged meeting held on Saturday at the Akal Takht — the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs — Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, acting jathedar of the Akal Takht, called for an emergency session of the “panj singh sahiban” (Sikh clergy). The gathering issued a resolution declaring that the actions of Takht Patna Sahib were a direct violation of the 2003 edict, which had been signed by the jathedars of all five Takhts.

The decree emphasised that while the regional Takhts have jurisdiction over local religious, social and cultural matters, only Akal Takht can make decisions on Panth-wide issues.

‘Akal Takht's clergy strongly condemned the recent decrees issued by “panj pyaras” of Takht Patna Sahib, calling them “unauthorised” and “anti-traditional.”