SGPC meeting summoned on Takht Patna Sahib edict

Amritsar, Jan 28 (UNI) An emeregence meeting of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandik Committee (SGPC) executive will be held here on January 31 to discuss the controversial edict of Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar, Giani Iqbal Singh rejecting the Nanakshahi calendar, which had been accorded approval as the 'official' Sikh calendar by the Akal Takht some years back.

The meeting has been summoned by SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar following a meeting of Sikh intellectuals held here today to discuss the edict issued by Giani Iqbal Singh last week in which he also called for bringing about changes in the morning and evening prayers of the Sikhs.

The intellectuals meeting presided over by Dr Kharak Singh, an eminent Sikh scholar viewed with serious concern the edict issued by Giani Iqbal Singh in his capacity as Jathedar of Takht Patna Sahib, one of the five Takhts of the Sikhs. The meeting asked the SGPC to summon a meeting of its executive members immediately to take stock of the situation.

"The edict by Giani Iqbal Singh is aimed to undermine the supreme authority of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism", Dr Singh said while calling for summoning Giani Iqbal Singh before the Akal Takht to explain his 'conduct'.

Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Joginder Singh Vidanti has already called a meeting of the Sikh clergy on February five to discuss the matter, which he has viewed seriously. The Jathedar has gone on record to state that only the Akal Takht could decided on matters which concern the entire Sikh community.

Giani Iqbal Singh who was suspended as the Jathedar of Patna Sahib by the managing committee of that gurdwara has so far refused to relent and has justified his actions. He has already issued summons to the Patna Sahib Gurdwara Management Committee chairman Mohinder Singh Romanna to appear before Takht Patna Sahib on February nine.

UNI XC-HS VN1707