Sikh clergy bans demonstrations near gurdwaras

Amritsar, Nov 27 (UNI) In a significant decision to uphold the sanctity of gurdwaras, the Sikh clergy today banned demonstrations and protests outside the holy Sikh shrines within the country and abroad.

The decision, taken at a meeting of the Sikh head priests held at the Akal Takht in the Golden Temple complex here, also prohibited burning of effigies outside shrines.

The meeting was presided over by Akal Takht, Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vidanti. Others who participated in the meeting were the Jathedar of Takht Keshgarh Sahib Tirlochan Singh, Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh and Giani Gurbachan Singh, head granthi (priest) of Harmandir Sahib.

The decision follows recent incidents of clashes among various Akali factions within the premises of gurdwaras, the major one being the clash between Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and his supporters with SAD (Badal) and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhk Committee (SGPC) officials at Dewan Manji Sahib hall in the Golden Temple complex in June this year. The clash took place after Mr Mann was not permitted to speak during a religious function of the SGPC, which is dominated by the SAD (Badal).

A similar incident took place last month in the premises of a historical gurdwara at Kathunangal during the birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Buddha, the first Head Priest of the Harmandir Sahib.

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