Amritsar, July 9
Jathedar row in high priests meeting; no to solemnizing same-sex weddings
THE ONGOING tussle between Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh and Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh today resulted in a crisis, with the latter seeking his summoning at Akal Takht.
Giani Nandgarh sought summons to Giani Iqbal Singh for challenging the authority of Akal Takht by claiming that Takht Patna Sahib was supreme.
However, playing down the demand, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said Giani Iqbal Singh would not be involved in the five Sikh high priests’ meeting till he regretted his remarks in writing.
Earlier, at a marathon meeting’ the high priests directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to issue guidelines to all gurdwaras and “granthis” against providing Guru Granth Sahib for solemnizing same-sex marriages.
The high priests felt that going by the proof provided by the research committee, which collected the “kalgi” (plume) of Guru Gobind Singh from England, they had not an iota of doubt about its authenticity. However, they had no objection if the SGPC got its authenticity verified for public satisfaction.
. The clergy also directed Balwant Singh Sihorei Wale to appear for clarification for his role in copying the model of Harmandar Sahib to build a gurdwara at Mastuana in Sangrur district.
The clergy decided to issue a fresh directive to the SGPC to implement the orders of Akal Takht in altering the design and structure so the gurdwara did not look like Darbar Sahib.
While disposing of another complaint; the high priesl sought a clarification from the gurdwara committee of Helsinki in Finland for making changes in the daily morning and evening Sikh prayers.
A clarification was also sought from Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Committee in Surrey; Canada, for violating the Akal Takht edict in serving “langar” (community kitchen).
