JALANDHAR: The Damdami Taksal Chief Baba Thakur Singh has announced that the Taksal recognizes only those persons as head priests of various Sikh Takhats who had been elected in keeping with the Maryada of Sarbat Khalsa. The announcement was made in a statement released here on Saturday by AISSF leader Dharambir Singh.
The statement said Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, Bhai Swinder Singh, Bhai Jaswant Singh and Bhai Kashmir Singh are the Jathedars of Akal Takhat, Takhat Kesh Garh Sahib, Takhat Damdama Sahib Talwandi Sabo and head Granth of Akal Takhat respectively. Baba Thakur Singh said there were no difference between these Jathedars and Damdami Taksal and the Sikh people at home and abroad should have no misunderstanding on this issue.
It may be recalled that Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode was appointed Jathedar of Akal Takhat by Sarbat Khalsa jointly organized by Damdami Taksal and AJSSF at the Golden Temple complex on January 26, 1986. He was installed as Jathedar on March9 last year after the UAD led executive committee of SGPC appointed him Akal Takhat Jathedar at a meeting held at Chandigarh on the eve of his installation.
It may be recalled that the militants had disowned Bhai Jasbir Singh and his associates as well as Prof Darshan Singh Ragi as Jathedar of Akal Takhat and other Takhats, Their position was that these were government agents planted on Sikh institutions. But the. Damdami Taksal Chief has taken a reverse stand on the issue.
According to a newspaper report, there was a controversy on the authority of these Jathedars to receive some foreign funds on behalf of Jathedar Rode. A sizable amount was due to be delivered to them, but Damdami Taksal disowned Jathedar Rode and hence the amount was said to have been withheld. Now with the reconciliation of Bhai Rode and Damdami Taksal, the way has been paved for Bhai Rode to receive those amounts.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 11, 1989
