I Am Not SAD's Rep, Panth Is Supreme For Me: Giani Gargaj

Says if community feels his leadership is lacking, they have the right to remove him

- HT Correspondent

JALANDHAR: Acting jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Wednesday said he does not represent the Akali Dal but is committed to serving the entire Sikh Panth (community).

His remarks came amid ongoing controversy over the recent removal of jathedars of Akal Takht and Kesgarh Sahib by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the disputes surrounding the "hukamnama" issued by the Akal Takht against former SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and other leaders.

Giani Gargaj, who assumed the charge of the jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib and acting jathedar of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, on Monday, emphasised the importance of the Sikh Panth and the supremacy of the Akal Takht, stating that if the community feels his leadership is lacking, they have the right to remove him.

Responding to a media query after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi on Wednesday, Giani Gargaj said: "I am not a representative of Akali Dal. I am here to represent the whole Sikh Panth."