AMRITSAR/BATHINDA/JALANDHAR: The executive committee of SGPC has barred the jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh, from performing his duties and has given the charge of the Sikh temporal seat to its head granthi till further orders.
Harpreet was one of the five Sikh clergies (Panj Singh Sahiban) who pronounced “tankhah” (religious punishment) for SAD chief and former deputy CM Sukhbir Badal on Dec 2 for “mistakes committed by SAD and its govt between 2007 and 2017.”
Those following the issue said that with this development, the Akali crisis, instead of heading towards reconciliation and resolution, has the potential to spiral into another crisis in the Sikh religio-political sphere.
A statement issued by the SGPC office in Amritsar on Thursday said the committee mulled over allegations levelled by a Muktsar resident, Gurpreet Singh, who claims to have been once married to Harpreet Singh’s sister-in-law.
Appearing before the committee at Gurdwara Degsar Sahib in Ludhiana, Gurpreet accused Harpreet of interfering in his married life and alluring his wife, leading to his separation. He said the jathedar used his influence to harass him and entangled him in court cases.
“After the opinion of the members present in the meeting, it was accepted that it is important to investigate the allegations levelled against the jathedar, keeping in mind the dignity and honour of this position,” the SGPC statement said.
It informed that a sub-committee had been formed to probe, which will submit its report within 15 days.
Responding to SGPC’s decision, Harpreet said he had “anticipated such a move.” Claiming that the same group making the accusations would now be the ones investigating the matter, he suggested that the decision was “predetermined.” “I had an intuition that such a decision could be taken,” he said.
Harpreet clarified that the allegations against him, specifically claims made by Gurpreet, were baseless and said he had already addressed them at the Akal Takht.