LUDHIANA: Bhai Ranjit Singh, the alleged assassin of Gurbachan Singh, the Nirankari chief, has been appointed Jathedar of the Akal Takhat at meeting of the executive committee of the SGPC chaired by its president GS_ Tohra.
Bhai Ranjit Singh has been lodged in Tiber Jail since 1983. His appointment is thus more emotional than real as he cannot carry out his duties unless released. In his absence another incumbent will be announced soon.
The SGPC chief, it appears, had many angles in his mind when he appointed Bhai Ranjit Singh. First he effectively silenced the lobby which favoured extension to Prof Darshan Singh who resigned some time ago following a rift with
Tohra. Second, Tohra sidelined Bhai Jasbir Singh regarded by many including Simranjit Singh Mann as the chief. Third, the SGPC ensured continued representation to the urban Sikhs.
In another decision the SGPC executive nominated Bhai Harinder Singh Khalsa as chief administrator of Nankana Sahib Educational Trust which runs Guru Nanak Engineering College, Ludhiana. Khalsa had resigned from the Foreign Service in protest against Operation Blue star in 1984. Khalsa refused to join any political party after his return from Norway earlier this year. His reaction to the appointment is still not known.
According a reliable report at the time of going to press, Harinder Singh Khalsa has turned down the SGPC offer and would not accept any post offered by G.S. Tohra.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 15, 1990
