SGPC seeks govt support to maintain peace at Golden Temple on Diwali ›

BANDI CHHOD DIWAS Says parallel jathedars can visit shrine, but not when Takht jathedar is delivering message

We appeal all, including devotees and Sikh hardliners, to cooperate with us. We don’t want violence...the Bandi Chhod Diwas should pass off peacefully ROOP SINGH, SGPC secretary

AMRITSAR : In a bid to ensure that peace prevails at the Golden Temple complex on Diwali, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has asked the state government to ensure security at the shrine.

The move comes after parallel jathedars, appointed by the radical sarbat khalsa in 2015, declared that they would read out “sandesh” at the Golden Temple on Bandi Chhod Diwas (Diwali). This may lead to clash between the radicals and the SGPC members.

In 2015, parallel “jathedar” of Akal Takht Dhian Singh Mand succeeded in reading out his message at the Akal Takht on Diwali despite restrictions imposed by the police and the SGPC task force, leading to tension.

However, the police foiled the similar bid last year. On both these occasions, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which also controls the apex gurdwara body, was ruling the state.

But with the change of guard this year, the SGPC is taking no chances.

As the SGPC can only make security arrangements on the Golden Temple complex, it wants the government to deploy police, also in plain clothes, around the Golden Temple complex.

“Not only the government, we appeal all, including devotees and Sikh hardliners, to cooperate with us. We don’t want violence...the Bandi Chhod Diwas should pass off peacefully,” said Roop Singh, SGPC secretary.

He also said the parallel jathedars are welcomed to come to the Akal Takht, but not when the takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh will deliver his “sandesh”. “Sri Darbar Sahib is pious place and centre of spiritualism, and no one is allowed to vitiate its peace,” he said.

Replying to a query, he said the parallel jathedar’s attempt to read out a message would be considered as indiscipline and violation of maryada.

Meanwhile, hitting back at Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, the parallel jathedars accused him of terrorising them. Giani Gurbachan Singh had strictly asked the SGPC and the state government to rein in parallel jathedars.

“This year too, parallel jathedar of Akal Takht Dhian Singh Mand will read out his sandesh peacefully on Bandi Chhod Diwas,” reads the press release issued by Jagmeet Singh, spokesperson of the parallel jathedars.

“The state government should not entertain the SGPC. SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar and Giani Gurbachan Singh will be responsible of vitiating the peace if Mand is stopped from delivering the message,” said the spokesperson.