Johar Singh out as Chhota Ghallughara management chief, insists his penance is complete

GURDASPUR : Bowing to pressure of rivals after he was excommunicated from the panth (Sikh religion), Johar Singh finally gave up his position as management committee head of Gurdwara Chhota Ghallughara Sahib, Chhamb, Kahnuwan, on Saturday.

He also vacated his residential quarters on the premises on Friday and moved to his private residence at Gunnopur village.

When contacted, he told Hindustan Times that he had already resigned as president of the gurdwara trust on October 11 after he was summoned by the Akal Takht jathedar regarding a case in which some “indecent” activities were discovered at the shrine.

However, it must be underlined that Johar recognises only the “parallel” clergy “appointed” by some radical groups, and they too had given him religious punishment, which is what he was carrying out.

The recognised clergy had excommunicated him after he did not appear before them.

Johar said that in the October 11 meeting, “The trust members passed a resolution unani- mously accepting my resignation and elected another trustee, Karam Singh, as the new president. I will function only as a member of the trust.”

Johar added that in order to disturb his penance process — as mandated parallel Akal Takht jathedar Dhian Singh Mand, whom he recognises — a group of men and women assaulted him at the gurdwara on the night of October 23.

The assailants had dragged Johar Singh out of his residence on the first floor of a building in the shrine , brought him on the ground floor and gave him a thrashing.

He asserted that as a part of his penance process, an akhand path (chain prayer) he had started on October 22 and the bhog (conclusion) was held on October 24.

And he asserted that since he had completed his penance, he was exonerated of the ‘tankhah’ and now he could perform religious rites at any of the gurdwaras.

He also reasserted that he does not recognise Gurbachan Singh as Akal Takht jathedar “as he was removed from his office by the Sarbat Khalsa (‘seminal congregation’) held at Chaba in Amritsar on November 15, 2015, and Mand was appointed in his place”.

While declaring Johar ‘tankhaiya’, Giani Gurbachan Singh had asked the village panchayat to dismiss the gurdwara trust and form a local committee to manage the shrine.

I do not recognise Giani Gurbachan Singh as Akal Takht jathedar. He was removed at Sarbat Khalsa in 2015. I have completed the penance as awarded by (parallel jathedar) Bhai Dhian Singh Mand. JOHAR SINGH