LUDHIANA: The Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Prof Manjit Singh refused to be drawn into any controversy over the political goal set by the Shiromani Akali Dal at Amritsar and the rote of Akal Takht
Prof Manjit Singh said: I am not concemed with the political goal and its structure as Jathedar of Akal Takht. I am only concerned with Sikh Panthic affairs. The Jathedar was asked to comment on the criticism of Akal Takht regarding 13 interventions in political matters and the demand for an autonomous state for the Sikhs by the six Akali groups which formed the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Prof Manjit Singh said the role of Akal Takht in the whole situation was simply to make the Akali leaders sit together as Gursikhs and sewaks this too was done at the repeated request of the Akali leaders. I have emphasized again and again that I have no concern with the bickering of the Akali leaders and the distribution of the officers. But IT am concemed with the pain through which the Sikhs have been passing because their bickering. It was only al their request that 1 adopted the course of making them sit together listen to kirtan give up their egotistic and imposing attitudes and have the feeling of what a Gursikh is like he said He said Akal Takht did not make any announcement nor intervene in the internal matters of the Akali leaders. All decisions were taken by them. The political goal was also set by the leaders themselves. The political goal had not been given by Akal Takht. This is a goal set by a political party which wants to gain political power… is for the Akali leaders to reply to any criticism and Akal Takht will not center into any political controversy.
Prof Manjit Singh said that Parkash Singh Badal would appear at Akal Takht on May 6 and would explain the stand of his party. The refusal of Badal to appear at Akal Takht after his commitment at Talwandi Sabo was very unfortunate.
He said that Badal should come to Akal Takht after leaving aside the ego of a leader and as a sewak if he wants to achieve the blessings of the Guru and the Panth.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 13, 1994
