AMRITSAR: The SGPC President, Gurcharan Singh Tolica has reverted some of its decisions taken during the peak of the militant movement. These decisions relate to the appointment of its secretary and the recitation of prayers at the Akal Takht.
These reversions assume significance due to the oft repeated saying of Tohra that “militants are his Sons” More so the SGPC has never ventured to criticize the militants or any of their actions.
The SGPC, in its general house budget meeting held on March 31 last, passed a resolution reiterating its demand for the implementation of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. This was the first step that indicated major shift in its political thinking otherwise all these years the SGPC had been flirting with the Khalistan movement,
The SGPC, at its executive meeting held at Sang Deshianin Jalandhar district on May 8, passed a resolution reappointing Manjit Singh Calcutta as its second secretary, As a result of it, Harinder Singh Khalsa who had replaced Calcutta as Secretary in 1990, had to resign. The. Proposal was to shift Khalsa to & new post. It was considered that the then SGPC president, Baldev Singh Sibi had appointed Khalsa under the militants” pressure. Another major decision taken at the Sing Dhesian meeting was 10 scrap the two religious decisions implemented by then Akal Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode in 1988. The decisions are not to recite “raagmala” index of various raggasat Akal Takht The “raagmala” which is listed at the end Of Sai Guru Granth Sahib is recited at the conclusion of the “path”. Second religious decision was to stop recitation of “chaupaais” and “dohas” of Guru Gobind Singh after the recitation of rehraas Sahib at Darbar Sahib and Harmandir Sahib every evening. Rode who still continues to be a jathedar Akal Takht was appointed by the various militant outfit sata Sarbat Khalst held in 1988. He is detained in jail for the last three years. Rode is the brother of slain Sant Jamail Singh Bhindranwale.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 11, 1993
