MANSURANLUDHIANA AUGSA sant samagam convened by the Damdami Taksal to discuss the Sikh “Rehat maryada” issue today rejected the 1934 “maryada” as announced by a religious body set up by the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht. It maintained that the “maryada” adopted by the ‘Sarbat Khalsa” and approved by the general house of the SGPC on March 30, 1988, should be retained. This maryada is still in vogue.
The samagam was held here at Gurdwara Damdama Sahib of the Bedi clan, which was convened by Baba Thakar Singh chief of the Damdami Taksal to settle the issue of “maryada” on which a controversy started after the decision of the SGPC executive to revert to the “maryada”” prevalent before March 30,1988, at Harmander Sahib and Akal Takht.
The Samagam set up a committee of 101 sants and Sikh scholars representing Sikh religious organizations, dears and sampardas and Singh Sabhas. It will discuss the issue of Sikh “Rehat maryada” and give its views.
This committee of 101 sants and scholars is “parallel” to the 62member panel set up by the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Prof Manjit Singh, which met in Amritsar three days ago and called upon the Sikhs to implement the “maryada” of 1934.
The samagam maintained that there was no unanimity on the “maryada” issue in 1933 and no further meeting was held in 1934 on “maryada” as stated by the SGPC and the acting Akal Takht Jathedar.
Baba Thakar Singh said Guru Gobind Singh set the “maryada” in 1699 by baptizing Panj Piaras.
The Baba clarified that the Damdami Taksal did not have any separate “maryada” nor did it intend to impose any such “maryada.” “We are keen on implementing the maryada given by Sat guru by all organizations and the sant samaj,” he said.
‘The samagam in a resolution asserted that no individual or organization had any right to make any changes in Guru Granth Sahib.
By another resolution the samagam said Akal Takht was the supreme authority of the Sikhs. All “hukamnamas” issued by the Takht would be binding on the Sikhs.
When asked whether a confrontation had started with the nomination of a “parallel” committee, they said all issues would be settled through Akal Takht But they hastened to add that the Jathedar of Akal Takht should be acceptable to all.
Earlier, welcoming the participants, Baba Sarbjit Singh Bedi saida committee should be formed to sort out differences on the issue of “maryada.”
He said the sanctity of Akal Takht must be preserved.
With today’s sant samagam a confrontation between the SGPC and the sants of different organizations has started under the patronage of the Damdami Taksal.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 13, 1993
