At his coronation, acting Akal Takht jathedar extols Hawara
Says Panthic unity will be his top priority, Sikh bodies will be kept in loop in decisionmaking
: Newly appointed acting jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Harpreet Singh, on Tuesday said Babbar Khalsa militant Jagtar Singh Hawara, one of convicts in the Beant Singh assassination case, is a respected figure in the Sikh community.
He made this remark soon after taking charge at the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, in the Golden Temple complex.
About the demand of some radical Sikh bodies for recognising Hawara as regular jathedar of the Akal Takht after Giani Gurbachan Singh stepped down from the post on October 18, Giani Harpreet Singh said, “Though I have a lot of respect for him, I cannot say anything on this.”
Hawara was named as Akal Takht jathedar during the Sarbat Khalsa (grand Sikh assembly) at Chabba village in Amritsar in November 2015. However, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) does not approve of the Sarbat Khalsa-appointed jathedars.
Interacting with mediapersons after his installation ceremony, Giani Harpreet Singh, who is also the jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, said Panthic unity will be his top priority and all Sikh bodies will be kept in the loop while taking decisions.
He refused to comment on Sarbat Khalsa-designated Akal Takht parallel acting jathedar Dhian Singh Mand and other similar jathedars who are leading the protest at Bargari over the sacrilege issue.
“The power of the Panth is disintegrating. We will make efforts to regain it. Bringing various Sikh bodies on a single platform will be my top priority. Apart from the jathedars of other Sikh Takhts, various Sikh bodies and sects will be made part of the decision-making process. Also, the advice of scholars will also be considered,” he said.
“I will try to maintain the Akal Takht’ autonomy with the cooperation of all sections of the community,” he said, adding, “I will try to ensure that every decision taken at the Akal Takht will be in sync with the Panthic sentiments, Gurus’ principles and Sikh rehat maryada (code of ethics).”
SIKH HARDLINERS STAY AWAY FROM CEREMONY
The new acting jathedar’s installation ceremony was attended by Takht Patna Sahib and Takht Kesgarh Sahib jathedars Giani Iqbal Singh and Giani Raghbir Singh.
SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Manjit Singh GK, Damdami Taksal head Harnam Singh, Budha Dal chief Baba Balbir Singh among others presented ‘dastars’ (turban) for the ‘dastarbandi’ (turban-wrapping) ceremony of Giani Harpreet Singh.
However, no member of radical Sikh organisations attended the event. In the eye of a storm over granting pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in a blasphemy case, Giani Gurmukh Singh, who was recently reinstated as Akal Takht head granthi, was also seen at the installation ceremony.
He (Hawara) is a respected figure among Sikhs. But I don’t want to say anything on the demand for recognising him as regular jathedar of the highest Sikh temporal seat. GIANI HARPREET SINGH, acting Akal Takht jathedar