AMRITSAR, AUG.8: A new dimension has been added to the ongoing feud between the Damdami Taksal and the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Prof Manjit Singh, over the “maryada” issue with the five member Panthic Committee headed by Bhat Wassan Singh Zafarwal, reported to be in Pakistan, having ridiculed the Jathedar and the SGPC chief, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, for their attempts to create fissures in the Panthic organizations on this important religious matter. A Statement, jointly signed by Bhat Zafarwal and Bhai Jarnail Singh Hoshiarpur pointed out that while the various militant organizations were fighting the “Delhi Darbar” and had reached a crucial stage in achieving their goal, the Akal Takht Jathedar had raked up this religious matter at this juncture. All such issues concerning the Sikh community could only be settled by Summoning “Sarbat Khalsa.”
The statement alleged that Tohra had conspired to weaken the temporal authority of Akal Takht by bringing his own men like Prof Manjit Singh and Manjit Singh Calcutta.
In gross violation of Sikh traditions, the acting Jathedar at the behest of Tohra was trying to bring in the “maryada” issue on the center stage of Sikh affairs to mislead the community and create dissentions and confusion in the organization, it said.
The statement warned the Jathedar of Akal Takht and Tohra to immediately adopt the traditional maryada at the Golden Temple. In the end, the statement appealed to the Damdami Taksal to give a call for a “‘Sarbat Khalsa” inviting all militant organizations, Sikh scholars and religious heads for the appointment of an Akal Takht Jathedar acceptable to all and to uncover the government conspiracy to Create hurdles in their struggle.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 13, 1993
